Field Validation of a Laser-Based Robotic System for Autonomous Weed Control in Organic Farming

Weed management, particularly in organic farming, poses a significant challenge due to high manual labor costs and the crop’s low competitive ability. Precision laser technology offers a promising non-chemical alternative. This study evaluates the field performance of a novel robotic system based on a Thulium fiber laser. The validation was conducted on commercial fields of the Westhof Bio GmbH in Friedrichsgabekoog, Germany. The Weeding Success rate of the laser weeding robot was 95% and the Detection Rate 85% for carrots for one weeding cycle. For beetroot, these values are 98% and 88%, respectively, after two weeding cycles. The field trials validate the Thulium fiber laser system as an agronomically effective and economically viable alternative for sustainable weed management. The technology demonstrates the potential to significantly reduce manual labor and reliance on herbicides in challenging crops.