All about LaserWeeder G2 : Carbon Robotics’ New Take on Laser Weeding

Last Release : Interested in knowing how quickly you can pay-back your investment? Check out my other articles where I delve into calculating the payback period for laser weeding technology, helping you understand the timeline for seeing a return on your investment : Laser Weeding, A profitable weeding solution for your farm ?

How do you explain the success of carbon robotics?

Laser weeding is often hailed as a revolutionary solution, and with the launch of the G2 version of its LaserWeeder, Carbon Robotics seems ready to prove it. By integrating user feedback from earlier models, the company has made significant improvements, delivering a system that is faster, lighter, and more efficient than ever.

Where Carbon Robotics Stands Today

Carbon Robotics has become a trailblazer in laser weeding, delivering cutting-edge technology that combines AI, robotics, and precision agriculture. Since the release of its first LaserWeeder, the company has made waves in the agricultural industry, selling 150 machines globally. Despite this success, the high price of these machines has remained a significant barrier, limiting their accessibility for smaller farms.

The company’s initial model offered impressive weed-killing accuracy, reducing the need for herbicides and significantly cutting manual labor costs. However, the first iteration also faced a host of criticisms, leaving room for improvement—a challenge Carbon Robotics has embraced with the release of the G2.

New G2 laserweeder - Credit : Carbon Robotics

What Needed Improvement?

While the original LaserWeeder received praise for its innovation, it wasn’t without its flaws. Farmers noted several issues that limited its widespread adoption:

Cost: The price of the machine was prohibitively high for many, even with potential savings on labor and chemicals.
Speed: The initial version was considered too slow to handle larger fields efficiently, 1km/h was very slow
Weight and Size: The machine was heavy, bulky, and difficult to integrate into some farming systems, especially in wet conditions
Energy Consumption and Noise: It consumed significant power and operated at a noise level that was less than ideal.
Manual Labor Requirements: Although it performed well on small weeds, larger weeds often required additional manual weeding, sometimes up to 70 hours per hectare after a single pass.

These shortcomings became key targets for Carbon Robotics in the design of the G2.

What’s New with the G2?

Carbon Robotics’ LaserWeeder G2 introduces several key advancements designed to address the limitations of the previous version while opening the door to new opportunities in the agricultural market.

Simplified Design: The G2 features a sleeker and lighter design, making it easier to integrate into diverse farming systems while reducing operational complexity for farmers, more modern design that’s lighter and easier to maneuver.
Improved Productivity: With a work speed twice as fast as the previous model, the G2 can cover larger areas in less time, significantly boosting efficiency.
Adaptable Configurations: The G2 now offers models ranging from 2 meters to 18 meters, providing flexibility for farms of varying sizes and crop layouts. This modular approach allows Carbon Robotics to target new markets, such as sugar beets and potatoes, which were previously less accessible for laser weeding.
Connectivity : Starlink system as standard to ensure connectivity in remote locations, as explained during my report from Australia

These improvements enable the G2 to appeal to a broader range of farm types and sizes, but the machine's core market for ensuring profitability remains within high-value, densely planted crops like those found in the organic sector, where alternatives such as herbicides or mechanical weeding are limited.

However, the price remains the number one barrier to adoption. While the G2's increased adaptability and efficiency make it more versatile, its high cost continues to restrict access primarily to larger, high-margin operations. This reality underscores the ongoing challenge for Carbon Robotics: striking a balance between innovation and affordability to expand its customer base.

By combining simplicity, enhanced productivity, and adaptability, Carbon Robotics strengthens its position as a leader in laser weeding technology. Yet, breaking through to smaller farms or new regions will depend on whether future iterations can address this critical price barrier.

What’s Next for Laser Weeding market ?

The success of Carbon Robotics doesn’t mean the market is locked. Price remains the key battleground, and this is where European competitors are likely to strike. While they currently lag behind Carbon Robotics in terms of time-to-market, their ability to offer more cost-effective solutions will be their biggest advantage.

As laser weeding technology becomes more productive, more efficient, and—most importantly—more affordable, it will start to expand into new markets. This evolution will put it in direct competition with smart mechanical weederslike FarmWise, Stout, and others, which currently dominate the segment for precision weeding without chemicals.

One thing is certain: the laser weeding revolution is in motion, and it won’t stop until it reaches its full potential. The technology is here to stay, and as it continues to evolve, it will reshape the way we think about weed control in agriculture.

For those looking to enter this market, accelerating time-to-market and avoiding costly mistakes will be critical. This is where expert support from AgTech Market and its AgTech Collective network of specialists becomes invaluable. With the right strategy and partnerships, new players can position themselves for success in what promises to be one of the most transformative developments in modern agriculture.

Want to learn more about Carbon robotics integration on a farm ? I have visited a user of this machine

Conclusion: The success stories continue

The success story of Carbon Robotics continues, with everything seemingly aligned for smooth international expansion. With the LaserWeeder G2, the company has reinforced its leadership in laser weeding by addressing key weaknesses of the previous model, improving productivity, adaptability, and ease of use. The growing demand for chemical-free weeding solutions, particularly in high-value organic farming, further strengthens its market position.

However, while Carbon Robotics appears to have the perfect formula, questions remain. The price barrier is still a major obstacle, limiting adoption primarily to large, high-margin farms. If laser weeding is to become mainstream, competition will be crucial—new players, particularly from Europe, must step in to drive cost reductions and push innovation further.

For now, Carbon Robotics is ahead, but the race isn’t over. The expansion of laser weeding depends on its ability to become more accessible. As the market matures, the next big challenge won’t just be technological—it will be economic viability. And that’s where the real revolution will happen.

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