Carbon Robotics, a global leader in agricultural AI and robotics, has unveiled a significant advancement in the field of precision agriculture with the introduction of the world’s first Large Plant Model (LPM). This cutting-edge AI model is designed for plant detection and identification, and it has been trained on an extensive agricultural dataset comprising 150 million labeled plants. The LPM is set to revolutionize farming practices by enabling farmers to initiate laser weeding in any field or crop within minutes.
The LPM’s training on diverse crops, weeds, soil types, climates, and growth stages worldwide provides an unparalleled foundation for plant recognition and decision-making. As Carbon Robotics’ LaserWeeder fleet operates globally, the system continuously collects real-world data, enhancing the model’s performance and benefiting all LaserWeeders.
Paul Mikesell, Founder and CEO of Carbon Robotics, emphasized the immediate value this technology brings to farmers. “When our robots can understand any plant in any field immediately and adapt behavior in real-time, farmers immediately get maximum value from the machines,” he stated. The LPM equips farmers with the most advanced AI technology to optimize the weeding quality of LaserWeeder in their unique environments.
The LPM is the core of Carbon AI, the decision-making brain that operates across all Carbon Robotics products. Carbon AI processes vast amounts of plant and field data to make real-time decisions, such as identifying and eliminating plants, navigating field conditions, and adapting to crop variations. Currently, Carbon AI powers all LaserWeeders and Carbon ATK (Autonomous Tractor Kit for Existing Tractors), facilitating smarter and more precise weed control and reliable tractor autonomy for farmers.
A new feature, Plant Profiles, is being launched for all LaserWeeders, showcasing the practical benefits of this AI technology for farmers. This feature allows farmers to quickly and easily customize the foundational LPM to their specific crops, weeds, and field conditions. Operators can select a few images in the iPad Operator App to add to their Plant Profile, and the system immediately adapts, optimizing LaserWeeder behavior for their unique fields. Unlike other AI-based systems that require substantial farmer input and take weeks or months to create new models, Plant Profiles enables the model to adapt in minutes.
David Faircloth, Farm Manager at Bland Farms, highlighted the transformative impact of Plant Profiles on their operations. “We use plant profiles in our Vidalia Onion seed beds, transplants, and direct seeded onions,” he said. “This has been a game changer for us and the simple, user-friendly platform allows our operators to maximize LaserWeeder performance in real-time in the field.”
The announcement of this breakthrough technology comes at a crucial time, as farmers are increasingly seeking solutions that reduce their spending and dependency on labor and herbicides, while enhancing crop yield, quality, and consistency. Carbon Robotics will be showcasing its latest technology at Fruit Logistica in Berlin, Germany, and World Ag Expo in Tulare, California, in early February.
This advancement in agricultural AI and robotics holds significant implications for the future of farming. By leveraging the power of AI and real-time data, farmers can achieve greater precision and efficiency in their operations. The ability to quickly adapt to unique field conditions and crop variations can lead to improved crop yields and quality, while reducing the need for harmful herbicides and labor-intensive practices. As the technology continues to evolve, it has the potential to transform the agricultural industry, making it more sustainable and productive.