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DandeBot - An Autonomous Weeding Solution for Residential Lawns

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DandeBot - An Autonomous Weeding Solution for Residential Lawns

Rajkumar, Nishanth (2025) DandeBot - An Autonomous Weeding Solution for Residential Lawns. Masters thesis, Concordia University.

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Abstract

DandeBot – An Autonomous Weeding Solution for Residential Lawns
Author: Nishanth Rajkumar
This thesis presents the development and validation of DandeBot, an autonomous robotic system designed for comprehensive residential lawn maintenance. The robot addresses the need for efficient, eco-conscious, and low maintenance lawn care through a fully electric platform powered by an AI-driven software stack. Emphasizing safety, adaptability, and ease of use, the hardware was developed using CAD and Design for Manufacturing (DFM) principles, resulting in a modular and robust design. The integrated software stack combines localization, mapping, and path planning using odometry, visual odometry, and IMU data fusion to navigate dynamic outdoor environments. Task-specific algorithms were developed and validated for autonomous navigation, weed detection, and obstacle avoidance. Key hardware innovations include a modular gripper system for weed removal and adaptable attachments for multiple lawn care tasks. Field trials confirmed the robot’s capability to perform with high precision and reliability in varied lawn conditions, significantly reducing the need for human intervention. This work contributes to the growing field of service robotics by demonstrating how intelligent systems can automate routine household maintenance. The thesis concludes by outlining future research directions, including system scalability, enhanced multi-tasking capabilities, and integration with smart home networks.

Divisions:Concordia University > Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science > Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Engineering
Item Type:Thesis (Masters)
Authors:Rajkumar, Nishanth
Institution:Concordia University
Degree Name:M.A. Sc.
Program:Mechanical Engineering
Date:1 June 2025
Thesis Supervisor(s):Xie, Wen-Fang
Keywords:Autonomous lawn robot Residential lawn maintenance AI-driven navigation Visual odometry Weed detection
ID Code:995736
Deposited By: Nishanth Rajkumar
Deposited On:04 Nov 2025 17:16
Last Modified:04 Nov 2025 17:16

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