Weeds and other invasive plants can cripple farm productivity, but the environmental effects of chemical herbicides have become an even bigger problem for Big Agriculture (and the planet as a whole). Carbon Robotics is combating this conundrum with the LaserWeeder, a robotic farm implement that the company introduced in 2022.
Designed to be pulled behind a tractor, the weeder looks like a sci-fi vacuum cleaner but deploys far more sophisticated technology: AI-guided computer vision distinguishes “good” vegetation from bad (it can identify 120 crop types), and precision lasers then zap only the weeds. Farmers ultimately spend much less time and money on weeding. And by decreasing or even zeroing out exposure to chemicals, the LaserWeeder aids in the preservation of soil health and productivity—helping food producers protect future crops as well as current ones.