The ability to seed and weed crops grown in beds is a key driver for the development of a four-wheel version of the usually three-wheel FarmDroid autonomous tool carrier.

It gains a little weight but no longer needs stabilising ballast when working across a slope, and in addition to straddling beds, the four-wheeler can work among salads and herbs grown in very narrow row spacings.

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With ultra-precise RTK-corrected satellite guidance, the FarmDroid in either form can sow any number of crops at a pre-planned rate, with seed deposited with known co-ordinates.

These features enable it to return later in hoeing form to take out weeds before they have emerged not only between the rows, but also between the seeds. This work can continue well into the growing season.

Although mechanical weeding is the machine’s main focus, the Danish manufacturer of the FarmDroid is developing a spraying system that will allow owners to keep it busy almost year-round.