Robots Target Weeds With Light and Precision Spraying
Earth Rover ships a light-pulse weeding robot while Niqo Robotics takes orders for a tractor-towed sprayer aimed at the 2027 season.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Robotics
Live Poll
Should farmers be required to cut herbicide use with new technology?
Earth Rover has begun shipping CLAWS, a robot that uses intense light pulses to eradicate weeds, after selling its first 10 pilot units. Niqo Robotics debuted the RoboWeeder F50, a tractor-towed sprayer that targets weeds and skips other plants.
Why it matters
Herbicide-free weeding aims to cut chemical use and labor in crop production, and both systems rely on cameras and AI to tell crop from weed. Early pricing and performance claims will determine how quickly growers adopt the technology.
The figures come from manufacturer claims and early sales counts rather than independent field trials, which were not reported. Earth Rover's 10 sold pilot units and 15 in construction give a small installed base, and the cost and payback claims remain unverified.
The players
Earth Rover
Earth Rover is a United Kingdom-based robotics company that builds the CLAWS light-pulse weeding robot for vegetable growers.
Niqo Robotics
Niqo Robotics is a robotics company that developed the RoboWeeder F50, a tractor-towed sprayer that targets weeds with selective nozzles.
The details
CLAWS uses cameras and AI to tell crop from weed before sending a pulse of light to the weed's growing point, running up to 16 hours per charge with solar top-up. The RoboWeeder F50 is towed behind a tractor of 135 horsepower or more, and only the nozzles positioned over a weed switch on, with no subscription fee.
Timeline
Earth Rover plans a Series A funding round next year to expand its design from vegetables toward cereals and oilseeds.
Niqo is taking orders for the 2027 season in the United States and Australia.
The Tech Race
Both robots extend camera-guided selective weeding, a method that aims to replace broadcast herbicide with per-plant targeting. Earth Rover's light-based approach and Niqo's tractor-mounted nozzles compete on different hardware paths toward the same goal.
Growers weighing these robots must compare upfront costs, such as early CLAWS units at about £150,000, against labor and herbicide savings. The F50 carries no subscription fee, which affects ongoing operating expenses.
The takeaway
Growers should weigh vendor accuracy and payback claims against independent field results before committing capital. Early adopters will likely shape how well these systems perform across different crops.
What happens next
Niqo is taking orders for the 2027 season in the United States and Australia, and Earth Rover plans a Series A funding round next year.
Further reading
Explore more on Robotics for how autonomous machines are reshaping farm work.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TechRound.
Live Poll
Should farmers be required to cut herbicide use with new technology?
