The future could be much healthier for both farmers and everyone who eats, thanks to farm robots that kill weeds with lasers. In this episode of TechFirst, we chat with Paul Mikesell, CEO of Carbon Robotics, to discuss groundbreaking advancements in agricultural technology.
Paul shares updates since our last conversation in 2021, including the launch of LaserWeeder G2 and Carbon's autonomous tractor technology: AutoTractor.
LaserWeeder G2 quick facts:
- Modular design: Swappable laser “modules” that adapt to different row sizes (80-inch, 40-inch, etc.)
- Laser hardware: Each module has 2 lasers; a standard 20-foot machine = 12 modules = 24 lasers
- Laser precision: Targets the plant’s meristem (≈3mm on small weeds) with pinpoint accuracy
- Weed kill speed: 20–150 milliseconds per weed (including detection + laser fire)
- Throughput: 8,000–10,000 weeds per minute (Gen 2, up from ~5,000/min on Gen 1)
- Coverage rate: 3–4 acres per hour on the 20-foot G2 model
- ROI timeline: Farmers typically achieve payback in under 3 years
- Yield impact: Up to 50% higher yields in some conventional crops due to eliminating herbicide damage
- Price: Standard 20-foot LaserWeeder G2 = $1.4M, larger models scale from there
- Global usage: Units in the U.S. (Midwest corn & soy, Idaho & Arizona veggies) and Europe (Spain, Italy tunnel farming)
We chat about how these innovations are transforming weed control and farm management with AI, computer vision, and autonomous systems, the precision and efficiency of laser weeding, practical challenges addressed by autonomous tractors, and the significant ROI and yield improvements for farmers.
This is a must-watch for anyone interested in the future of farming and sustainable agriculture.
00:00 Introduction to TechFirst and Carbon Robotics
01:10 The Science Behind Laser Weeding
05:46 Introducing Laser Weeder 2.0
06:39 Modular System and New Laser Technology
09:26 Manufacturing and Cost Efficiency
11:47 ROI and Benefits for Farmers
13:24 Laser Weeder Specifications
14:08 Performance and Efficiency
14:49 Introduction to AutoTractor
17:23 Challenges in Autonomous Farming
18:23 Remote Intervention and Starlink Integration
23:23 Future of Farming Technology
24:50 Health and Environmental Benefits
25:18 Conclusion and Farewell
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com