Seattle-based Carbon Robotics, the creator of the LaserWeeder, says it has achieved a breakthrough for global agriculture with the launch of the world’s first LPM (large plant model), the most advanced AI (artificial intelligence) model for plant detection and identification. Trained on the fastest-growing agricultural dataset ever built, including diverse crops, weeds, soil types, climates, and growth stages worldwide, the LPM creates a foundation for plant recognition and decision making.

The company demonstrated its latest technology last month at Fruit Logistica in Berlin, Germany, and World Ag Expo in Tulare, CA. It comes at a pivotal moment when farmers are actively seeking new solutions that reduce their spending and dependency on labor and herbicides, while increasing crop yield, quality, and consistency.

With 150 million labeled plants, the LPM enables farmers to start laser weeding any field or crop in minutes. It enables the company’s LaserWeeder fleet, already operating in fields around the world, and the system continuously ingests real-world data in a compounding data flywheel effect, strengthening the model exponentially and improving the performance for all LaserWeeders worldwide.

The new capabilities from Carbon Robotics make it simple and fast to personalize the LPM for each farmer’s unique field and crop conditions and update model behavior in real-time. With this latest development, the company says it’s never been easier for farmers to bring cutting-edge AI to their fields and farming operations.

“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,” said Paul Mikesell, Founder and CEO of Carbon Robotics. “The large plant model provides farmers with the most advanced AI technology to maximize the weeding quality of LaserWeeder in their unique environments.”

The LPM serves as the foundation for Carbon AI, the decision-making brain operating across all of Carbon Robotics’ products. It processes the vast amount of plant and field data to make real-time decisions, like identifying and eliminating plants, navigating field conditions, and adapting to crop variations.

Carbon AI powers all LaserWeeders, and Carbon ATK, an autonomous tractor kit for existing tractors, enables smarter and more precise weed control and dependable tractor autonomy for farmers.

Plant Profiles, a new feature launching for all LaserWeeders, demonstrates how this AI translates into practical value for farmers. The feature enables farmers to quickly and easily tailor the foundational LPM to their unique crops, weeds, and field conditions.

To make real-time performance changes, the operator can select just two to three 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.

“We use plant profiles in our Vidalia Onion seed beds, transplants, and direct-seeded onions,” said David Faircloth, Farm Manager at Bland Farms. “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.”

For its fiscal year ending in January, Carbon Robotics surpassed $100 million in annual revenue, solidifying its position as the preeminent force within agriculture AI. The company has customers in 15 countries, with a sizable presence in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

Earlier this week, New Zealand’s LeaderBrand was the latest Carbon customer announced, with funding support from that country’s Ministry for Primary Industries Primary Sector Growth Fund. The company says the innovation helps it eliminate weeds with precision, improve soil health, cut down emissions, and grow better quality, more affordable leafy greens.

The LaserWeeder G2 brings sub-millimeter weed control to more farms, crops, and soil types. The product line spans from the G2 200, the smallest, lightest unit for smaller farms and ease of moving between fields, to the G2 1200, the large-scale 40-ft unit designed for organic corn and soybean farms.

The self-contained, fully sealed weeding modules feature two powerful 240-W lasers, three high-resolution cameras with enhanced optics, two Nvidia GPUs for advanced image processing, 20 LED lights for day or night operation, and a 21-in (610-mm) shoot width.

In laser weeding, optimal thermal energy destroys the meristem, stopping regrowth, and returning weeds to organic biomass. Significant results have been shown in top crops, including leafy greens, onions, carrots, herbs, and brassicas.

Carbon’s technology has shown 80% weed control cost reduction/year, 99% weeds killed, and 100+ specialty crop models. Laser thinning eliminates 99% of unwanted plants, eliminates doubles, and thins and weeds simultaneously.