Opico has entered the spot spraying arena by signing a deal to import front-mounted Rumex machines from Bavaria, Germany.

The pictured 9m RXF900 and smaller 6m RXF600 use artificial intelligence to detect weeds, before signalling individual nozzles to give them a blast of chemical.

See also: Ecorobotix spot sprayer slashes chemical costs by over 90%

Six cameras are tasked with collecting images on the 9m model, with a pair of ultra-powerful spotlights helping them see clearly in poor light.

These pictures are analysed by complex, crop-specific algorithms that can pick out botanical foe with pinpoint accuracy.

The system then decides which of the 222 flat fan nozzles need to be triggered in order to hit the target.

Such is its brain power that it can carry out this process while cruising along at speeds of up to 12kph.

Originally, Rumex was set up to spray docks out of grassland, but the kit now works in a wide array of crops from onions and carrots to potatoes and sugar beet.

And the list is constantly expanding as the firm refines the software.

Thanks to adjustable wheels that can be moved along the chassis, it will work on all common bed sizes from 1.5m to 3m. The frame will also fold to 3m for transport.

Chemical is carried in a 200-litre tank, though capacity can be increased significantly by adding a rear-mounted vessel.

Starting price of the RXF900 is £142,000.