Aigen, which builds autonomous solar-powered farm robots, has launched Element Gen 2 X4, a robot that removes weeds mechanically at the root and collects plant-level data as it works, Precision Farming Dealer reports from the company's announcement.

The company points to 275 herbicide-resistant weed species worldwide, the ban on synthetic herbicides in organic crops and the declining reliability of post-emergence sprays on larger weeds; it says laser weeding can become uneconomic because of the extra time and energy needed. Element removes weeds in the row and between rows, including weeds up to 6 inches in foliage diameter.

Moving to four independently operating arms was the key technical step, the company says: its custom edge AI identifies every plant and directs all four arms only to the weeds, in real time, as the robot moves. Two- and three-arm versions remain available. Each robot runs entirely on solar power, with a solar-charged battery backup, and works as part of a coordinated fleet, with no driver, fuel or charging infrastructure.

"Our Element Gen 2 X4 gives growers herbicide-free weed control, plus plant-level data and field-level analytics, at a predictable per-acre cost," said co-founder and chief executive Kenny Lee. The robot records weed density going into a field and removal coming out on every pass.

Aigen says the machine is cost-competitive with weed-control programmes that rely on cultivation, hand labour or herbicides combined with mechanical control, and sees room for further cost cuts. It has built more than 100 robots, logged more than 15,000 autonomous hours, designs Element for 10,000 operating hours or eight years, and gives a two-year warranty. The robot is already deployed with Fortune 500 companies.

Photo: PaulineCant / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Source: Precision Farming Dealer