Chinese company unveils laser weeding robot to reduce herbicide use in agriculture

A new development in agricultural technology has emerged from China, where a company has introduced a laser weeding robot designed to replace chemical herbicides in vineyards and crop fields. The robot, named Hg LaserWeeder, was developed by Huagong Technology Industry Co Ltd and was recently demonstrated in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province. According to the company, the robot uses advanced lasers to target and destroy weeds with a removal rate of over 95 percent.

The Hg LaserWeeder operates around the clock and is equipped with an artificial intelligence-powered vision system. This system uses data models that recognize thousands of crop and weed varieties, allowing the robot to adjust its laser intensity in real time. The goal is to eliminate weeds without damaging crops, offering a precise alternative to traditional herbicide use.

Xiong Bian, who leads AI algorithm development at Huagong’s research institute, explained that the robot’s technology is intended to address the environmental impact of chemical herbicides. Chemical herbicides are widely used in agriculture but are known to leave residues that contaminate soil and water sources. By using targeted lasers instead of chemicals, the company aims to reduce agricultural pollution at its source.

One advanced version of the Hg LaserWeeder features 32 laser heads and can reportedly destroy up to 320,000 weeds per hour. This makes it four to eight times more efficient than conventional weed control methods, according to its developers. The robot’s use also eliminates the need for manual labor in weed removal, which can be both time-consuming and physically demanding.

Huagong Technology Industry has conducted validation trials for its algorithms in test fields located in Yunnan and Heilongjiang provinces. Following these trials, the company has opened global pre-orders for the robot and plans to begin mass production in 2026.

The introduction of this technology comes as part of a broader trend toward automation and sustainability in agriculture. Robotics projects aimed at reducing chemical use and labor costs are being developed not only in China but also internationally. In the United Kingdom, for example, a robotics initiative focused on supporting the wine industry recently received more than £475,000 in government funding.

As vineyards and farms worldwide look for ways to improve efficiency while minimizing environmental impact, robotic solutions like the Hg LaserWeeder may become increasingly common. The technology represents a shift toward precision agriculture, where data-driven tools help farmers manage their crops with greater accuracy and less reliance on chemicals.