Verdant Robotics yesterday unveiled the 2025 Sharpshooter and will debut the robotic weed killer this week at FIRA 2024 in Woodland, Calif. As a smart implement, the Sharpshooter attaches to a tractor and can spray up to 5 acres per hour, day or night. It uses artificial intelligence to target weeds while avoiding crop plants.
Early Sharpshooter customers are experiencing significant savings, cutting chemical inputs by up to 96% and reducing hand-weeding costs by an average of 65%, claimed the company. These efficiencies enable growers to achieve a rapid return on investment, typically within 12 to 24 months, it said.
Hayward, Calif.-based Verdant closed its $46.6 million Series A funding round in 2022.
AI-powered machine vision targets weeds
The Sharpshooter system uses Bullseye Aim & Apply Technology, Verdant Robotics’ proprietary Spatial AI, machine learning, and aiming-nozzle technology. The AI model can distinguish crop plants from weeds and then deliver millimeter-level accuracy for chemical application.
The …