Can Lasers Replace Herbicides?

Managing unwanted plant growth has long been a challenge in agriculture, typically addressed through herbicides, mechanical removal, or intensive labor. But with rising concerns about chemical use and labor shortages, farmers are looking for alternatives.

Carbon Robotics, a Seattle-based agtech company, has introduced the LaserWeeder G2—a high-tech machine that uses lasers and computer vision to eliminate non-crop plants with surgical precision.

How It Works

Mounted on a tractor, the LaserWeeder G2 scans rows of crops using AI-powered computer vision. It identifies invasive plants and precisely targets each one with a laser, destroying it at the root, without disturbing the surrounding crops. The system works at full field speed and can process over 5,000 individual targets per minute, making it viable for large-scale farming.

Designed for all-day, all-weather operation, it also minimizes soil disruption compared to traditional mechanical removal.

Why It Matters

This technology addresses multiple agricultural challenges:

• Chemical-Free Control: Eliminates the need for herbicides, reducing environmental impact and protecting crop health.

• Labor Efficiency: Reduces the need for manual labor in areas with workforce shortages.

• Crop Performance: By removing competition from unwanted plant growth, the technology helps optimize crop yields.

The G2 system supports more than 50 different crop types and is already being deployed on farms in North America and Europe.

What’s New in the G2

The second-generation unit improves on speed, accuracy, and compatibility with various row configurations. A modular design allows easier maintenance, and its enhanced AI engine provides even more reliable recognition of non-crop species.

It's part of a growing movement toward precision agriculture—the use of robotics and AI to maximize sustainability and output on modern farms.