Not only other research projects besides Oper8 (like welaser-project.eu and conserwa.eu) are actively studying aspects of laser applications for weed control but also commercial machines are being deployed and tested by growers. Externally validated efficiency parameters for recognition and treatment effectiveness are still to come for commercial machines, but farmers are already happy that an alternative is available for manual labour and a steadily shrinking range of herbicides.
WeedBot is European company based in Latvia, that was one of first working on tractor-attachable laser weeding equipment and doing trials with farmers since 2021 with last trials this year in Spain. WeedBot plans to deliver first commercial units to farmers in 2024.
They have participated in largest agriculture machinery fair in Europe – Agritechnica 2023 with a lot of interest no only from organic growers but also conventional growers from wide range of crops – from field crops till tree nurseries.
Carbon Robotics Enters the European Scene
Another laser weeding equipment manufacturer – Carbon Robotics has also announced activities in Europe this year. Carbon Robotics also offers tractor attachable machine although their initial product was autonomous laser weeding robot.
Another laser weeding equipment manufacturer – Carbon Robotics has also announced activities in Europe this year.
Carbon Robotics also offers tractor attachable machine although their initial product was autonomous laser weeding robot.
