CLAWS vs Ted
Two weeding machines, one verified table. Every figure below is sourced and dated; vendor claims are labelled and kept apart from independent results.
Concentrated Light Autonomous Weeding and Scouting (CLAWS) robot from UK startup Earth Rover — its patented Lightweeder destroys the meristem of individual weeds with a short pulse of concentrated (non-laser) light, chemical-free and zero-till, on a 100% battery + solar platform with 8 onboard cameras that double as a crop-scouting system. Order book opened Q3 2025; deliveries scheduled from Q1 2026 under a weeding-as-a-service model.
Best for: Organic and chemical-free vegetable and row-crop growers (UK first) who want herbicide-free, zero-till weed control plus per-plant scouting data, paid per hectare rather than as capex.Fully electric autonomous vine straddler from Toulouse-based Naïo Technologies for mechanical under-vine weeding and soil work — GNSS RTK navigation, up to 6.5 ha/day, 600 kg tool lift, and a growing catalogue of approved implements (Clemens, Souslikoff, Boisselet, Naïo's own EVOLT intervine). Billed by Naïo as the lightest autonomous vineyard robot on the market.
Best for: Mid-width vineyards replacing herbicide passes with unsupervised mechanical under-vine weeding, day-long electric operation and low soil compaction.| CLAWS Verified 2026-07-17 | Ted Verified 2026-07-16 | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Task | Weeding | Weeding |
| Autonomy | Fully autonomous | Fully autonomous |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom | France |
| Availability | Pre-order | Available now |
| EU market | Pending | CE-marked |
| Lead time | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Last verified | 2026-07-17 | 2026-07-16 |
| Specifications | ||
| Power source | 100% electric — battery + solar; battery alone runs roughly half a day, solar panels extend to a full day | 100% electric — 26.5 kWh battery (39 kWh option) |
| Required tractor power | Is the vehicle (lightweight autonomous platform, no tractor needed) | Is the vehicle (electric straddle tool carrier, 600 kg lift capacity) |
| Dimensions | ~2 m working width; other dimensions not disclosed | ~450 × 142–185 (adjustable) × 200 (±30) cm |
| Weight | Not disclosed | ~2.1 t |
| Min farm size | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Productivity | ~1.5 ha per 8 h day demonstrated; ~4 ha/day targeted for the commercial fully autonomous machine, weed burden depending | Up to 6.5 ha/day (vendor); up to 8 h autonomy depending on tools and terrain |
| Max speed | Not disclosed | Up to 6 km/h |
| Sensors | 8 onboard cameras (stereo imaging) · AI per-plant identification · satellite navigation · FIELD digital-twin scouting software | GNSS RTK centimetre navigation · Naïo "Augmented Autonomy" unsupervised-operation stack · annual vineyard mapping required |
| Price & model | ||
| Price (EUR) | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Native price | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Business model | Weeding as a service, charged per hectare — positioned at parity with tractor-based weeding and below manual weeding cost | Buy direct from Naïo Technologies or via distributors (France; North America via dealer network) |
| Ongoing cost | Service-model pricing per hectare; no published machine list price | Battery life-cycle; tool wear parts; annual RTK vineyard mapping update; electricity |
| Key outcome | ||
| Best verified result | Herbicide use Chemical-free concentrated-light weeding, zero-till; controls ALS-resistant weeds (Niab-tested, vendor-reported) · vendor | Herbicide under the row Mechanical under-vine weeding, no herbicide · vendor |
| EU context | ||
| CE marking | Not verified — pre-series Beta Pioneer machine, UK-focused rollout | CE marked — series product sold on the EU market |
| Machinery Regulation | Post-Brexit UK machine; EU conformity route not published | Designed and manufactured in France with primarily European components; conformity maintained under the EU machinery regime |
| CAP subsidy | Chemical-free zero-till weeding aligns with CAP eco-scheme goals, but no EU sales channel is evidenced yet | Electric, herbicide-free mechanical weeding supports CAP eco-scheme and pesticide-reduction goals |
"—" means the manufacturer has not disclosed the figure; we never estimate silently. Model either machine's payback with your own numbers on its ROI calculator page.