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Verdant Robotics upgrading its smart sprayerVerdant Robotics upgrading its smart sprayer

The Sharpshooter is helping vegetable farmers in the desert control weeds at emergence and accurately provide fertilizer to broccoli, leafy greens.

Todd Fitchette, Associate Editor

January 21, 2025

1 Min Read
Damian Valenzuela with smart sprayer
Damian Valenzuela, field support technician with Verdant Robotics, explains how the smart sprayer system can be programmed and operated in the field with a tablet.Todd Fitchette

New crop plant algorithms are being developed to expand the ability of robotic machines to control weeds and, in the case of targeted spray technology, address fertilizer needs with pinpoint accuracy.

Verdant Robotics’ Sharpshooter machine is helping vegetable farmers in the desert do both: control weeds at emergence and accurately provide plant fertilizer to crops like broccoli and leafy greens vegetables.

At a product demonstration near Brawley, Calif., the company’s “bullseye aim and apply” technology was showcased on a windy day in emerging broccoli. Rubberized skirts controlled drift of targeted herbicide treatments in gusty winds.

Lights, directional spray turrets, and cameras work in tandem with software algorithms to accurately spray minute amounts of product, allowing the system to be used day or night. Protective skirts prevent spray drift.

The three systems of turrets, cameras and lights are contained on adjustable racks under the covered boom. This allows farmers to work with different bed widths. Full width coverage systems are planned that would allow farmers to treat crops like spinach and cilantro.

Confidence levels in the algorithms allow the pull-behind machines to be used at about 1.4 mph. The goal, according to Chad Yagow, director of digital agronomy with Verdant Robotics, is to increase that speed to 2 mph.

Related:International ag-tech event gains growers' attention

The technology can be programmed and operated with a smart phone or tablet.

About the Author

Todd Fitchette

Associate Editor, Western Farm Press

Todd Fitchette is the associate editor for Western Farm Press. He began his journalism career in community newspapers in California, where he quickly earned top honors from the National Newspaper Association for his photography.

Much of his journalism career has been spent writing about agricultural issues in the western United States, writing relevant stories for large herd dairy producers, covering agronomic topics on a variety of specialty crops, and covering public policy issues centered primarily on labor and water issues. He has repeatedly been honored by the Fresno County Farm Bureau for his coverage of agricultural issues in California.

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