The LaserWeeder from Carbon Robotics was selected “Best AI-based Solution for Agriculture” at the sixth annual AI Breakthrough Awards competition.

The LaserWeeder from Carbon Robotics is the first and only laser-weeding robot currently on the market, and it has already removed more than 1bn weeds. To achieve highly accurate weed management, it makes use of powerful AI deep learning technology, computer vision, robotics, and lasers. The LaserWeeder can weed up to one hectare per hour and up to 5,000 weeds per minute, killing up to 99% of weeds.

The use of technology allows for far earlier weed detection and elimination than is achievable with the naked eye, eradicating weeds earlier in their life cycles without causing damage to the crop or soil. It can work with more than 40 different crops, and it can develop and deploy fresh deep-learning crop models in just 24 to 48 hours. Growers that use the LaserWeeder have seen a return on investment in one to three years and a reduction in weed control expenditures of up to 80%.

“Recognizing the challenges farmers face in weed control, we created an AI and deep learning technology that saves growers time and money on an extremely expensive and challenging task. We are honored to receive this recognition from AI Breakthrough and are proud to equip farmers with a reliable and sustainable tool,” Paul Mikesell, CEO and founder of Carbon Robotics, mentioned.

The goal of the AI Breakthrough Awards is to acknowledge excellence and recognize creativity, effort, and accomplishment in a variety of areas using AI and machine learning. More than 3,200 submissions from more than 20 different nations were submitted for this year’s program.

“We’re thrilled to award Carbon Robotics’ groundbreaking LaserWeeder ‘Best AI-based Solution for Agriculture.’ The LaserWeeder’s complex computer vision technology enables farmers to manage weed control efficiently. In today’s climate of scarce available labor and a low supply of herbicides, growers need solutions that enable them to weed large-scale crops effectively. Carbon Robotics is providing that solution through its technology,” according to James Johnson, managing director of AI Breakthrough.

The first LaserThinning device, which targets regions where vegetable crops are intentionally overseeded and subsequently thinned for optimal crop spacing, growth, and production, was unveiled earlier this year by Carbon Robotics. The company raised USD35m in Series C funding to increase sales, streamline and scale manufacturing, develop new products, and enter international markets. It was also nominated to Fast Company’s annual list of Most Innovative Companies.