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Articles by Geert Hekkert

The Hg LaserWeeder in action during a product launch in Wuhan, China. According to Huagong Technology, the robot identifies and destroys weeds within 5 milliseconds. Photo: Xinhua
16-07 | News

China backs laser weeders with new robot Hg LaserWeeder

Agritechnica, the world’s largest agricultural innovation showcase, drew over 470,000 visitors in 2023 and featured an unprecedented display of autonomous robots, such as this Karl field robot from French implement manufacturer Kuhn. Picture Mark Pasveer.
04-07 | News

Autonomous and smart machines take center stage at Agritechnica 2025

The Caterra Grasshopper at work in a ridge-cultivated organic vegetable field. The robot identifies the crop and uses precision lasers to burn only the weeds—without disturbing the soil. Photo: Caterra
30-06 | News

Over 70 growers on waitlist for new Swiss Grasshopper robot

The John Deere 5120M, equipped with a Sabanto retrofit autonomy kit, paired with a John Deere 1590-20 no-till seeder. Montana farmer Justin Yirsa chose two of these autonomous units over investing in a single 700+ hp articulated tractor with an 18-metre air seeder.
21-06 | Expert opinion

Is John Deere making a mistake with its autonomous RX9?

SARAL-Bot in action between strawberry rows. Photo: arXiv
20-06 | News

SARAL-Bot autonomously trims diseased leaves in strawberry fields

The autonomous Voltrac during early field testing in a Spanish vineyard. The electric tractor is fully modular and runs without a driver. Photo: Voltrac.
18-06 | News

Voltrac’s fully electric autonomous tractor to launch in 2026

James Kemeshi operates the low-cost modular robot in the Raven Precision Agriculture Center parking lot. His design aims to bring smart robotic tools within reach of smaller farms. Image: SDSU
17-06 | News

Affordable modular Ag Robot developed for under $2,500

Kubota tractor equipped with Agtonomy’s autonomous sensor platform during smart spraying demonstrations.
03-06 | News

Kubota and Agtonomy expand partnership on autonomous farming solutions

Development and evaluation of the physical cotton-picking robot in the (a) lab setting and (b) cotton farm environment. Photo: CottonSim
02-06 | News

CottonSim advances robotic cotton harvesting with AI and GPS navigation

The autonomous field robot Robotti is now ready for commercial scale-up across Europe, with support from new investor EAAVL and distribution through Kubota's dealer network. Picture: Koos Groenewold.
26-05 | News

Robotti secures investment to scale autonomous farming solution in Europe

Hekkert
Geert Hekkert Chief editor of Future Farming