What is the LaserWeeder?
The LaserWeeder is Carbon Robotics' chemical-free weeding machine: computer vision spots weeds and high-power lasers kill them. It is a towed implement pulled behind a tractor, not a self-driving vehicle.
Key facts
- Form factor
- agriculture
- Maturity
- commercial
- Verified deployments
- 4
- Maker
- Carbon Robotics
- products
- LaserWeeder / LaserWeeder G2: high-power-laser + computer-vision weeding implement (towed behind a tractor). Carbon AutoTractor (ATK): retrofit autonomy kit for John Deere 6R/8R tractors (remote-supervised).
- implement
- towed, pull-behind implement
- formFactor
- agriculture (computer-vision laser-weeding implement, tractor-towed; + separate AutoTractor autonomy kit)
- autonomy level
- remote-supervised driverless operation
On the record
Carbon Robotics' footage of its LaserWeeder G2 performing AI-vision laser weeding in-field. The LaserWeeder is a tractor-towed implement, not an autonomous vehicle: the tractor provides locomotion while computer vision targets and lasers weeds.
The short answer
The LaserWeeder is a farm implement from Carbon Robotics (founded 2018, Seattle, Washington; founder and CEO Paul Mikesell). It uses computer vision to identify weeds and high-power lasers to kill them, with no chemicals.
The load-bearing detail
The LaserWeeder, and the faster modular LaserWeeder G2 launched in February 2025, has no locomotion of its own. It is a towed, pull-behind implement: a conventional tractor pulls it through the field while the vision system targets and lasers weeds. Carbon's original 2021 LaserWeeder was a self-driving platform, but the company deliberately pivoted to a smart-implement format for faster payback. Autonomy and mobility are a separate product, the Carbon AutoTractor retrofit kit (April 2025), which adds remote-supervised driverless operation to John Deere 6R and 8R tractors at an early, limited commercial release.
What is verified
The registry records the LaserWeeder as commercial, with 4 verified deployments at named California farm sites. By Carbon's own reporting the product has serviced more than 250,000 acres and eliminated over 15 billion weeds across 150-plus machines. Those adoption figures are company-stated. DEPLOY has no verified purchase price on record for a LaserWeeder unit; ask Carbon Robotics directly.
For how DEPLOY separates company claims from corroborated facts, see verified-vs-claimed.
Frequently asked
Does the LaserWeeder use chemicals?
No. It kills weeds with high-power lasers guided by computer vision, marketed as a chemical-free alternative to herbicide.
Does the LaserWeeder drive itself?
No. It is a towed implement with no locomotion; a tractor pulls it. Carbon's separate AutoTractor kit is the remote-supervised autonomy layer.
How much does the LaserWeeder cost?
DEPLOY has no verified purchase price on record. Carbon Robotics is the source for current pricing.
Verified vs claimed
- Verified: Carbon Robotics (founded 2018, Seattle WA; founder/CEO Paul Mikesell) ships the commercial LaserWeeder, which uses computer vision + high-power lasers to kill weeds. Deployment: 250,000+ acres serviced, 15B+ weeds eliminated, 150+ machines on 100+ farms across ~14-15 countries. LaserWeeder G2 (modular, faster) launched Feb 2025.
- Verified-vs-claimed: Total funding is $157M as stated in Carbon's own Series D release ($70M Series D led by BOND, Oct 2024; earlier Series C was $30M led by Sozo, 2023). An additional ~$20M was raised Oct 2025 (GeekWire) for a new undisclosed robot. The aggregator figure of ~$276M is NOT primary-verified and is not asserted. AutoTractor per-hour pricing ($15-25/hr) is trade-press-reported, not company-confirmed.
- Verified-vs-claimed: Total funding is $157M as stated in Carbon's own Series D release ($70M Series D led by BOND, Oct 2024; earlier Series C was $30M led by Sozo, 2023). An additional ~$20M was raised Oct 2025 (GeekWire) for a new undisclosed robot. The aggregator figure of ~$276M is NOT primary-verified and is not asserted. AutoTractor per-hour pricing ($15-25/hr) is trade-press-reported, not company-confirmed.
Split from the registry record. See the verified-vs-claimed framework.
Where it is deployed
4 verified deployments on the registry for the LaserWeeder. Click any marker to open its primary-source record.
Explore the deployment map
See where these robots are verified operating, by place and type.
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