For those tired of the never-ending task of weeding, one set of engineers has the answer: a robot that autonomously clears up your lawn. The machine roams the garden and uses sensors to detect weeds sprouting from the soil, which it then cuts down using a small string trimmer. The robot, called Tertill, is solar powered and water-proof so can be left outside in the rain and does not need to be plugged in to charge. Experts have developed a machine that automatically roams the garden and uses sensors to detect weeds sprouting from the soil, which it then cuts down. As well as the ability to pair with smartphones through Bluetooth, the Tertill also has a USB port for charging during cloudy weeks.

What do vacuuming, mopping, and weeding have in common? They're all repetitive household chores that must be done frequently. Jones invents practical, mobile robots, among them the vacuum-cleaning Roomba and floor-washing Scooba, which he developed at his former employer iRobot. At his new startup, Franklin Robotics, he's continuing to alleviate housework drudgery by making a waterproof robot that weeds flower and vegetable gardens. The Tertill, which has been prototyped and is scheduled to launch in summer 2017 for $250, operates autonomously by using solar power, sensors to identify obstacles, and a string trimmer to cut weeds. Jones hopes later versions of it will appeal to organic farmers who want to weed their crops without using herbicide.