As farms across the UK grapple with mounting labour shortages, rising input costs, and tighter sustainability expectations, automation is becoming less of a novelty and more of a necessity. Leading the charge is US-based agri-tech firm Carbon Robotics, whose latest developments in autonomous tractor control and laser-based weeding solutions are rapidly redefining how arable operations are managed.
Their newest offerings—Carbon AutoTractor and the next-generation LaserWeeder G2—present a compelling vision for scalable, dependable automation in the field, particularly for vegetable, broadacre, and organic growers looking to improve precision, cut labour costs, and maintain production round the clock.
AutoTractor: Real-Time Autonomy with a Human Touch
The Carbon AutoTractor system is a retrofit autonomy kit designed for John Deere 6R and 8R Series tractors, enabling full autonomous operation without permanent modification. Installation is completed in under 24 hours, and tractors can still be operated manually if required—offering a flexible entry point into autonomous farming.
But what sets Carbon’s solution apart isn’t just the kit—it’s the Remote Operations Control Centre (ROCC), where trained Carbon Robotics staff remotely monitor every autonomous machine in real time. Whether it’s navigating past an irrigation pipe, detecting unexpected wildlife, or avoiding debris, human oversight ensures reliable, uninterrupted fieldwork with minimal downtime.
“In agriculture, autonomy has too often been oversold and underdelivered,” says Paul Mikesell, founder and CEO of Carbon Robotics. “Our approach is built around real-world farming challenges. We don’t just sell the kit—we stay with it.”
Tasks such as cultivating, ploughing, disking, mulching, mowing and other ground prep operations can all be handled autonomously. Safety is a clear priority too: with RTK-GPS, 360° camera vision, radar-based sensors, and physical plus remote emergency stops, operators can trust that operations are carried out safely, even when no one is in the cab.
And for those already using Carbon’s LaserWeeder? The AutoTractor works in tandem, intelligently adjusting speed to optimise weeding performance based on weed type and density—delivering up to 20% greater coverage compared to conventional tractor operation.
LaserWeeder G2: Next-Level Precision Weed Control
Originally launched to great acclaim, Carbon’s LaserWeeder now enters its second generation with a range of upgrades designed to improve flexibility, speed, and performance. The LaserWeeder G2 boasts a new modular design, reduced weight, and significantly increased processing power, opening up laser weeding to a broader range of farm sizes and crop types.
With models ranging from 6.6 feet to a staggering 60 feet in width, there’s now a version to suit everything from small-scale vegetable growers to large organic cereal operations. The lighter weight means G2 models can be paired with more economical tractors and used earlier in the season, helping to reduce compaction and improve soil health.
Each LaserWeeder G2 is powered by Carbon AI, a deep-learning system trained on over 40 million plants from around the world. The platform enables ultra-precise identification and elimination of individual weeds using high-energy lasers—eliminating the need for herbicides or mechanical cultivation.
Fitted with NVIDIA-powered image processors, high-resolution cameras, and 240-watt lasers, the G2 system can operate day or night, in all weather conditions. The 100% liquid-cooled design ensures consistent performance, and all data syncs in real time via Starlink internet, allowing for fast software updates and secure uploads of field images.
Farmers can manage and monitor operations via an iPad app or the Carbon Ops Centre, giving access to field-level performance data, weed detection stats, and even individual crop health metrics. For growers looking to boost yields while maintaining sustainability credentials, it’s an appealing combination.
Broadacre Expansion and Affordability
While initially developed for high-value vegetable crops, the G2 range now includes models specifically designed for organic broadacre crops like maize and soybeans. The 40-foot and 60-foot configurations are particularly suited to larger-scale, 60-foot implement farming systems and promise to be the first laser weeding solutions capable of handling such operations without disturbing the soil or crops.
With a pay-per-hour pricing model, Carbon Robotics has made this high-tech system surprisingly accessible—even for farms not looking to make a huge upfront investment.
A Practical Leap, Not a Gimmick
Farmers trialling the systems in the US report transformational gains in efficiency and reliability.
“Carbon Robotics showed us they could deliver with the original LaserWeeder,” says Brandon Munn of Columbia Basin Onion LLC. “Now, with our tractors running autonomously and LaserWeeders working through the night, we’ve extended our working hours and improved safety—all without adding staff.”
UK growers may still face logistical and import hurdles in bringing this tech across the Atlantic, but it’s clear that a new standard is being set in autonomous and laser-powered fieldwork. For farms struggling to manage labour and scale output sustainably, solutions like the AutoTractor and LaserWeeder G2 may soon prove as essential as the sprayer itself.
