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The agricultural world is witnessing a remarkable transformation, driven by groundbreaking technology. Among the most fascinating innovations is a farming robot equipped with lasers that can destroy hundreds of thousands of weeds in mere hours. This high-tech solution is not just a marvel of engineering but a timely response to persistent challenges in farming, from labor shortages to the environmental impact of chemical herbicides.
By combining artificial intelligence with precision laser technology, companies like Carbon Robotics are reshaping the way farmers tackle one of agriculture’s most labor-intensive tasks. These futuristic machines offer a glimpse into the potential of sustainable farming, where innovation meets efficiency, paving the way for a healthier and more productive future for agriculture.
Economically, the LaserWeeder is a sound investment. While the initial cost may seem substantial, its ability to cut weeding expenses by up to 80% means that the machine pays for itself within two to three years. This rapid return on investment, combined with its labor-saving capabilities, makes it a practical choice for farms of all sizes. As more farmers experience its benefits firsthand, the LaserWeeder is solidifying its place as a vital tool for modern agriculture.
With paybacks in such a quick mode, this would be something that the US could use right now. Now we can get organic foods at better rates and prices very quickly.
This is really great news!
I grew up on a farm and my dad would pay me $5 an hour to weed since I was a young kid.
It's incredibly labor intensive and to this day my 70 something father spends a good chunk of his time out there doing weed control in one form or another.
People forget how big of a deal our food supply is, how fragile the production systems are. Right now industrial ag is basically a machine for turning diesel fuel into human consumable calories, and the efficiency is 10:1 - so it takes 10 calories of fuel for 1 calorie of food on our plate.
This is some of the best news I've seen in a while, thank you 👍
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I know about it, too. I have these permanent ridges on my hands, near the thumbs from handling hoes (the gardening type). I used to spend hours and hours on the weeds only to be doing it again in a week or two. I must say though, it gave me time to commune with myself!!
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20 sats \ 1 reply \ @Akg10s33 1h
Thanks for this great post.. 👌 I imagine this method could later be modified in some way to either harvest or remove large weeds like the ones that grew around my uncle's chicken farm in Venezuela
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This will revolutionize organic farming. No need for herbicides any more. I would bet that you could train the AI to recognize bugs too! An amazing machine. I hope it really works as good as it sounds.
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These things are amazing. I haven't seen one in person, yet, but I know people who have. They say it's even more impressive than the videos.
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I haven’t seen one up close and in real life yet, either. It amazes me that it can kill just the weeds in 2 acres in 1 hour! That is a goodly speed. Just the weeds!! I have spent hours and hours weeding small plots of land to get the crappy weeds. And then, been disappointed because if you don’t get the root, you’ve failed and they grow back really quickly. Even scuffle hoes, although they make it faster, means the weeds are back in a week. This looks like it kills them very well and permanently.
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