China backs laser weeders with new robot Hg LaserWeeder
Chinese tech company Huahong Technology has unveiled the Hg LaserWeeder, an autonomous laser weeding robot designed to work around the clock.
The machine was showcased at a launch event in Wuhan, Hubei province, and is claimed by the manufacturer to be China’s first intelligent laser weeding robot of its kind. According to Huahong, the robot combines AI-driven cameras with data models covering thousands of crop and weed types. This allows it to dynamically adjust laser intensity, removing weeds while sparing crops. The company states the technology achieves a weed removal rate above 95%, aiming to replace chemical herbicides—labeled by Huahong as the “number one soil killer”—to reduce soil and water contamination.
Targets weeds in under 5 milliseconds
A high-end model features up to 32 laser heads and can reportedly destroy as many as 320,000 weeds per hour, making it 4 to 8 times more efficient than traditional labour or herbicide-based methods. Huahong claims the system processes images and targets weeds in under 5 milliseconds.
Field trials validating the algorithms have been completed in Yunnan and Heilongjiang provinces. Global pre-orders are now open, with mass production targeted for 2026. Ma Xinqiang, chairman of Huahong Technology, said the company will continue investing in innovation to strengthen partnerships and advance sustainable agriculture.
While laser weeding robots are already emerging in Western markets, this launch highlights that China is also investing heavily in non-chemical weed control.
