FIRA USA 2024, the California agricultural robotics and technology forum, took place in Sacramento, Calif., this year and featured lots of cutting edge agricultural technology and tools. Industry leaders from all over the world shared their vision for the future of autonomous farming, and over 80 exhibitors and 2500 attendees packed the Yolo County Fairgrounds for the 3-day event. Here are 3 standout weed suppression tools that no-tillers might want to keep their eye on in the coming months.

Aigen Element

One of the newer companies that was not in attendance for FIRA USA 2022 or 2023, Aigen made its FIRA USA debut this year and turned lots of heads in the process. This solar powered autonomous weeding technology has potential to change how growers approach weed suppression.

“We are a truly solar company with a solar panel on top charging the robotics system, which runs in a fleet format so that growers can deploy these robots on the field from crop emergence all the way to full canopy,” says Chris Brenner, Head of Field Operations for Aigen. “The system drives through the fields with camera systems pointing down, identifies the weeds and the crops and it removes them with mechanical hoes on the back.”

The main robot that Aigen had on display at the event, Aigen Element, is categorized as a terrestrial satellite rover, according to Aigen Chief of Staff, Sandra Phillips.

Aigen Element is powered by solar panels on top of the robot and is equipped to identify…