Precision Weeding in Agriculture: A Comprehensive Review of Intelligent Laser Robots Leveraging Deep Learning Techniques

With the advancement of modern agriculture, intelligent laser robots driven by deep learning have emerged as an effective solution to address the limitations of traditional weeding methods. These robots offer precise and efficient weed control, crucial for boosting agricultural productivity. This paper provides a comprehensive review of recent research on laser weeding applications using intelligent robots. Firstly, we introduce the content analysis method employed to organize the reviewed literature. Subsequently, we present the workflow of weeding systems, emphasizing key technologies such as the perception, decision-making, and execution layers. A detailed discussion follows on the application of deep learning algorithms, including Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), YOLO, and Faster R-CNN, in weed control. Here, we show that these algorithms can achieve high accuracy in weed detection, with YOLO demonstrating particularly fast and accurate performance. Furthermore, we analyze the challenges and open problems associated with deep learning detection systems and explore future trends in this research field. By summarizing the role of intelligent laser robots powered by deep learning, we aim to provide insights for researchers and practitioners in agriculture, fostering further innovation and development in this promising area.