Carbon Robotics has debuted its LaserWeeder G2, a product line that is says combines the latest artificial intelligence, computer vision, robotics and laser technology for precision weed control. A major component of the LaserWeeder G2 product line is its faster, lighter and modular design, according to the company.
A modular design allows for more farm sizes, field configurations, crop types and farm budgets to use this technology, Carbon Robotics says.
“We’ve got higher power lasers,” Carbon Robotics founder and CEO Paul Mikesell told The Packer. “We’ve done a lot with the types of technology in the targeting system to really speed this thing up as much as possible.”
Mikesell said this modular design allows for different configurations. Laser Weeder G2 platform has devices that range from a 6.6-foot wide device to a 20-foot wide device for specialty crop growers.
The company says available configurations for specialty vegetable crops and herbs include:
- LaserWeeder G2 200
- Width — 6.6 feet (2 meters).
- Weight — 4,250 pounds (1,928 kilograms).
- Ideal for smaller farms, its compact size makes it easier to transport.
- LaserWeeder G2 400
- Width — 13.3 feet (4 meters).
- Weight — 6,000 pounds (2,722 kilograms).
- A versatile midsize model capable of handling diverse crop types and field layouts.
- LaserWeeder G2 600
- Width — 20 feet (6.1 meters).
- Weight — 7,200 pounds (3,266 kilograms).
- The next generation of Carbon Robotics’ LaserWeeder, designed for a wide range of specialty vegetable and herb crops.
“We are able to now be a lot more flexible,” Mikesell said. “There’s a different price point with those also, so for some farmers who are a bit smaller and don’t want to take such a big bite with their first initial base LaserWeeder purchase, they can start with the 6-foot version of the Gen 2.”
Mikesell said each device has a range of acres best suited for efficiency and return on investment. For farms that are 800 acres or more, the 20-foot, or G2 600 model, would make the most sense, he said, and for farms with around 80-100 acres, the 6-foot, or G2 200, model would work best. Mikesell said farms that are less than 800 acres but more than 100 would find the best success with the company’s G2 400, or 13.3-foot LaserWeeder.
“We really start to tap into the ability to bring laser weeding into smaller farms; I think for the first time ever there was a whole segment of the farming population that just couldn’t get access to laser because they didn’t have enough acreage,” Mikesell said.
Carbon Robotics said its new G2 line starts at 4,250 pounds and the 20-foot G2 600 model is about 25% lighter than the original LaserWeeder. This lighter weight means the new G2 models are compatible with lighter tractors and reduce soil compaction.
The G2 line features 240-watt lasers, which the company says will reduce shoot time and allow growers to cover more acres. The new line also features upgraded NVIDIA graphic processing units to accelerate image processing for precise and accurate weeding. The G2 line has high-resolution cameras with enhanced optics to ensure clear and detailed visualization. It also features a 100% liquid-cooled system that maintains consistent and dependable operation in all conditions and Starlink high-speed internet to support model updates and image uploads, according to the company.
Carbon Robotics has worked with Tanimura & Antle to use the technology in its fields.
“We have a long history of implementing cutting-edge innovations throughout our operations in order to drive efficiency, advance sustainability, and produce the premium quality fresh produce our customers expect,” Scott Rossi, vice president of northern farming operations at Tanimura & Antle, said in a news release. “By integrating this precision technology into our operations, we are taking another step forward in reducing labor costs, optimizing resources and continuing our legacy of innovation in the industry.”
LaserWeeder’s G1 and G2 feature its Carbon AI, which is a deep-learning system for plant detection and identification. Carbon Robotics says the LaserWeeder G2 uses a growing dataset of over 40 million plants labeled from three continents. The company says the LaserWeeder has helped growers weed over 250,000 acres, eliminating over 15 billion weeds across 100-plus different crops.
Growers can access detailed performance metrics, including crop data and intelligence on weeds, through Carbon Robotics’ Carbon Ops Center and the mobile Carbon Companion app.
