WeedSpider enters the Californian market
Future Farming visited Santa Maria, California, to examine the WeedSpider, a new weeding tool designed to mount on the rear of a tractor. Developed as a more accessible alternative to fully autonomous weeding robots, the system aims to offer precision weeding using lidar and AI-powered cameras.
During our visit, we had the opportunity to meet the sales manager of this product and to speak with the first farmer who adopted this solution. Through these conversations, we gained valuable insights into the technology, its unique features, and its practical application in the field.
Simplicity at the heart of the product
WeedSpider’s design prioritises simplicity, making it more accessible and cost-effective than its competitors. Unlike many high-end machines that rely on substantial investor backing, WeedSpider product has been developed with a focus on affordability and performance. Its light configuration—particularly for 3-bed setups—and the requirement for only a 45 hp tractor could make it a practical choice for many farmers. The machine operates at a speed of 1–1.5 miles per hour, ensuring effective weeding while remaining easy on crops and easy to adjust. With initial field returns of around 3 acres per hour in productivity.
Compared to a FarmWise’s Vulcan, which costs a bit less than a million US$ and weighs couple tones, WeedSpider is significantly cheaper and easier to transport. However, the weight factor is a double-edged sword: while a heavier tool can penetrate the soil better during weeding, lighter equipment can enter fields earlier in the season without causing soil compaction. On the other hand, it can only weed the rows as it cannot cultivate the inter-rows and furrows, so a cultivating pass must be added.
Versatility at the heart of the adoption strategy
A key factor driving WeedSpider’s adoption is its versatility. The machine’s ability to perform weeding, thinning, and spot spraying means it can be amortised across multiple acres and crop cycles. As Matt shows us in the video, switching from one configuration to another has been designed to be simple and quick. Farmers can optimise its use over several fields and operations, ensuring that the initial investment delivers long-term value. Additionally, the machine adaptability allows it to handle both narrow and wide bed configurations, with different blades sizes too, without drastically changing the configuration of the tool bar, making it suitable for diverse farming needs.
3-dimensional weed control using bed mapping
The true innovation of this weeder lies in its advanced 3D weeding control system, which uses a combination of lidar and AI-powered cameras to map the bed and detect crops, in order that the movements of the blades pass between the crops with high precision. This capability ensures that even challenging conditions, such as uneven bed shapes or post-cultivation soil, do not compromise performance (as shown in the video).
To operate in a new crop, a quick initial AI calibration achieves about 80% of the desired results, however more time is needed further fine-tuning ensures near-perfect weeding accuracy. Moreover, each machine’s improvements contribute to refining the global software, enhancing the overall performance of the system.
What do first-time users think after several months of use?
The first purchaser of a WeedSpider 2-bed system in Santa Maria Valley, Blake Ferini from Rancho Laguna Farms, shared with us his experience after several months of use. Having previously worked with SeedSpider, they found the new tool easy to use and adjust. Compared to other solutions like Garford, this machine stood out due to its precise 3D-weeding capabilities and the absence of complicated vision calibration that often requires an expert (on the Garford system).
The machine operator, with 15 years of experience, noted a learning curve but remained optimistic about its long-term potential. Despite some initial manufacturing issues with motor quality, the Weedspider team addressed these problems free of charge, ensuring the tool’s reliability. They used this weeder primarily on organic celery (10 acres planted per week) and conventional head lettuce (30-60 acres/week).
Making the most of weeding, optimising with thinning
The farmer primarily invested in WeedSpider to operate on their 200 acres of organic celery planted per year, where weeding costs amount to several thousand dollars per acre. Once the celery fields are covered, the machine will then be utilised on conventional head lettuce plantations, which can also require intensive weeding, up to several hundred dollars per acre.
To maximise its cost efficiency, the farmer explored using WeedSpider for thinning operations, especially during periods when celery production was insufficient to keep the machine fully engaged. He confirmed us that thinning with this machine could help him to save between $200-$300 per acre.
Room for improvement and future optimisations
Unlike some competitors that have had years to refine their systems, it is important to note that WeedSpider is still in its early stages of development. While the current version has demonstrated strong potential, there is room for improvement, particularly in terms of component reliability and overall performance. The company is actively working on reinforcing the machine and optimising its software to address more crops. As these advancements are in place, the tool is expected to become even more competitive in the market. Will this system succeed in the highly competitive Californian weeding market?
