The future is here… and it is weedy. Carbon Robotics is a local company bringing computer vision, AI/deep learning, and robotics to a multibillion-dollar industry: farming. AgTech is one of the fastest-growing industries as growers seek to increase crop yields, preserve topsoil, and address labor scarcity while remaining profitable. Oh, and they’re helping the environment too.

Here’s the business model: Carbon Robotics has designed, developed, and built the LaserWeeder™—a revolutionary AI-powered robotic system that precisely identifies crops versus weeds and eliminates the weeds with lasers at sub-millimeter accuracy. At the same time, it gathers key crop, weed, and field data for analysis. This technology reduces herbicide use in traditional farming, eliminates unnecessary tilling for regenerative farming, and, in many cases, replaces weeding crews of up to 75 people per field per LaserWeeder unit. Carbon Robotics’ sophisticated AI/deep learning system, trained on over 40 million labeled crop and weed images, can distinguish between individual weeds and crops in real time at tractor speeds of 0.5–1.5 mph (processing 1–3 acres per hour). The LaserWeeder can also thin crops, such as lettuce, to maximize crop health, consistency, and yield per acre.

This year, Carbon Robotics introduced the next generation: LaserWeeder G2. It is lighter, faster, and features a modular design that allows for new sizes, configurations, and price points. The LaserWeeder G2 is now accessible to more farms of different sizes, supports a broader range of crops including organic corn and soybeans, and adapts to more field conditions such as high-tunnel farming. It reduces costs by up to 80%, increases output, and significantly improves profitability. New models start at 4,700 pounds, making them compatible with lighter-weight tractors. They also offer machine widths ranging from 6.6 to 40 feet, providing greater flexibility.

Brett Goodwin, VP of Marketing for Carbon Robotics, understands that a high-growth company must prioritize finding and empowering the best people. “We need a huge breadth of skills, from software, mechanical, and electrical engineers to experts in AI and deep learning, as well as professionals in manufacturing design, product management, sales, and marketing,” he says. Carbon Robotics looks beyond keyword skills, seeking individuals who are committed to the company’s mission and willing to go the extra mile.

Beth Kester-Warner, Head of People Operations, agrees. “We have a lot of incredible stories from employees with diverse backgrounds—from underwater welding to firefighting,” she says. “We also value DEI at our core.”

Who wouldn’t want to be part of the Carbon Robotics mission? Their technology enables farmers to grow food more efficiently, compete in global food production, enhance food security, and be better environmental stewards. That’s a pretty compelling reason to join them—and a key factor in why they attract top talent.

Addressing the labor crisis is one reason Carbon Robotics is experiencing such success. They recognize that there are better ways to utilize scarce labor than manually weeding fields. The LaserWeeder helps growers manage labor costs, while Carbon Robotics solves its own workforce challenges by being an employer of choice with a meaningful mission.