The LaserWeeder from Carbon Robotics has eliminated 25 billion weeds so far! That might seem like a figure pulled randomly out of the hat, but using the AI technology that can differentiate between weeds and crops as well as identify individual weeds, it is plausible to count how many weeds have been eliminated.
"In 2018, Carbon Robotics trialled a self-propelled autonomous unit, but this required other things such as a generator for power and elements of supervision," explains Sam Webster, AUS/NZ Sales Manager at Carbon Robotics. "Farmers all have tractors, so we went for options which could be fitted to the back of those existing tools. As we looked at different sizes, we had to consider things like how wide the roads are in various countries for transporting the units. Other aspects to consider were cost per hectare, the sizes of the farm, etc."
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Carbon Robotics started in the North American market and has expanded into Europe, Australia, and now New Zealand.
"Going forward, we have had to look at the different requirements for these markets. Earlier this year, we released the LaserWeeder G2 product line, which focused on being lighter and faster. For example, the sizes of the farms can differ greatly, as can the types of crops, weeds, and soil. Farmer feedback indicated a need for a faster unit, so we increased the speed and changed from a 150-watt CO2 laser to a 240-watt diode laser. This is more powerful and takes less time to shoot the weeds."
The LaserWeeder G2 is around 25% lighter than its predecessor, helping with ground compaction so farmers can get better entry timing for weeding. Laserweeding also mitigates some of the challenges that growers may have with more traditional methods in windy and wet conditions, and it can be used day and night.
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Traditionally, farmers have used herbicides as well as a high proportion of manual labour to eradicate the weeds, but more and more, herbicides are being banned or are not as effective as they used to be. Certainly, there's a significant benefit to organic farmers as they do not have as many options for weed control.
"As well as eradicating weeds, farmers have found that crops are healthier after the weeds have been lasered as opposed to being treated with herbicides. The AI technology allows us to continually collect images of different weeds and different crops. Soils from one country to another can be different; they can also vary greatly from region to region within the same country. The same weeds can look different from day to day as well. We already have a large amount of data, and we are ever evolving and can tweak models to be farm-specific. We work very closely with the farmer and give 24/7 support through a companion app, which works via satellite connectivity."
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Growers work on low margins, so Return on Investment is always an important point. "This, of course, depends on a lot of factors, but we suggest one to three years for customers to see an ROI. Organic growers tend to see an ROI faster, as they save more on manual labour costs. Conventional growers will save on herbicide costs, labour, and better yields."
Carbon Robotics has seen significant growth in the Australian and New Zealand markets. "Since September last year, we have been selling one unit per month, now we have eight units in the field and have just delivered our first one to New Zealand, with a second heading there next month. We are supporting these sales by increasing our number of staff and have just taken a lease on a building in Shepparton, Victoria, to provide a parts hub and workshop facility to service our growing fleet. One thing we pride ourselves on is a service level over and above the norm, and plenty of people on the ground."
Sam Webster
Carbon Robotics
Tel: +61 429478265
[email protected]
