Aigen Launches Element Gen 2 X4, the Scalable Precision Mechanical Alternative to Chemical Weed Control
Element Gen 2 X4 removes weeds in the row and between rows, including larger weeds that escape early-season control, and creates field-level analytics on every pass.
Key takeaways
- Aigen has launched Element Gen 2 X4, a four-armed upgrade to its autonomous weed control, data collection, and analytics robot. Fleets are available to growers for the 2027 season.
- Four independently operating arms remove weeds at the root mechanically, in the row and between rows, up to 6 inches in foliage diameter.
- Robots run entirely on solar with solar-charged battery backup, and navigate rows and fields as a coordinated fleet using Aigen's custom edge AI.
- Aigen's fleet weeds commodity crops with no chemicals and no fossil fuels.
- Aigen has built more than 100 robots and logged more than 15,000 autonomous hours in the field across multiple generations.
- Element Gen 2 X4 is engineered for 10,000 hours of active operation.
Redmond, WA — September 16, 2026
Aigen, the company building autonomous, solar-powered robots for agriculture, today announced Element Gen 2 X4. With more onboard capability, the company's newest robot combines mechanical weed control with plant-level data and field-level analytics. Element Gen 2 X4 is already deployed with Fortune 500 companies for weed control, data collection, and analytics.
Element takes on weeds that challenge herbicides and lasers.
Farmers face 275 herbicide-resistant weed species worldwide, while synthetic herbicides are prohibited for weed control in organic crops. Also, as weeds grow larger, postemergence herbicide control can become less reliable, while the additional time and energy required for laser treatment can make laser weeding economically impractical.
Element removes weeds mechanically at the root, in the row and between rows, including weeds up to 6 inches in foliage diameter. This gives growers a chemical-free option for removing larger weeds and continuing weed control as the growing season progresses.
Precision of a hand crew, built for field-scale weed control.
Element Gen 2 X4 is cost-competitive with higher-cost weed-control programs that rely on cultivation, hand labor, or a combination of herbicides and mechanical control. Aigen sees a path to further cost reductions that could make Element competitive with a broader range of conventional herbicide programs.
“Our Element Gen 2 X4 gives growers herbicide-free weed control, plus plant-level data and field-level analytics, at a predictable per-acre cost. Element fleets deliver targeted weed removal at field scale, in the row and between rows, operating autonomously on solar power.” Kenny Lee, co-founder and CEO, Aigen
More capability, same solar power.
Upgrading to four independently operating arms was a critical technical breakthrough for Aigen and Element, enabling each robot to cover more rows more effectively. Aigen's custom edge AI identifies every plant and directs all four arms to only the weeds, in real time, as the robot moves. Two- and three-arm (X2, X3) configurations remain available.
“Upgrading to four arms was a hardware, software, and power usage challenge. The team did an incredible job with the Gen 2 X4 pulling this off and still staying within a limited solar-powered budget. Farmers are being hit hard by higher and more unpredictable fuel costs. Element is an affordable and effective weed control and field analytics solution all in one.” Richard Wurden, co-founder and CTO, Aigen
Every robot runs entirely on solar, with a solar-charged battery backup, and works as part of a coordinated fleet. No driver, no fuel, no charging infrastructure.
Element Gen 2 X4 records weed density going into a field and removal coming out, giving growers a plant-level record of what was there and what was removed on every pass.
Aigen has built more than 100 robots and logged more than 15,000 autonomous hours in the field across multiple generations. Element is designed for 10,000 active operating hours or 8 years, and carries a two-year bumper-to-bumper warranty.
Growers can review specifications and request a demonstration at aigen.io.
Q&A for context
Is Element Gen 2 X4 a new robot, or an upgrade to the fleet Aigen already runs?
Element Gen 2 X4 is the four-arm configuration of Aigen's second-generation robot. Element robots have controlled weeds in the row and between rows across multiple generations. Gen 2 X4 adds four independently operating arms and more onboard and in-field capability. Two- and three-arm configurations remain available.
How does Element compare with herbicide programs and laser weeding?
Element removes weeds mechanically at the root, in the row and between rows, including weeds up to 6 inches in foliage diameter. It operates autonomously on solar power, without a tractor, diesel, or herbicides. Its mechanical arms can reach beneath crop foliage to remove weeds the system can identify and access.
Compared with herbicide programs
Element's mechanical action does not depend on a weed's susceptibility to herbicides, giving growers an herbicide-free way to address resistant weeds and continue weed control as the growing season progresses.
As weeds grow larger, postemergence herbicide control can become less reliable. Overhanging crop foliage can also reduce spray coverage on weeds, particularly for contact herbicides. Element's mechanical reach creates the potential for targeted removal beneath foliage as the crop canopy develops.
Element avoids herbicide purchases and the additional fuel costs of conventional diesel-powered spraying equipment.
Compared with laser weeding
As weeds grow larger, the additional time and energy required for laser treatment can make laser weeding economically impractical. Element removes weeds mechanically, including larger weeds within its 6-inch foliage-diameter capability.
Overhanging foliage can obstruct a laser's beam. Element's arms can reach beneath foliage to target weeds the system can identify and access.
Tractor-mounted laser weeders also require a tractor and its associated fuel and operating costs. Element's autonomous, solar-powered operation avoids that additional tractor requirement and fuel expense.
What do four arms change?
Four arms cover more rows per pass. Aigen's custom edge AI identifies every plant and directs all four arms to only the weeds, in real time, as the robot moves.
How does this compare to what growers pay for weed control today?
Element Gen 2 X4 is cost-competitive with higher-cost weed-control programs that rely on cultivation, hand labor, or a combination of herbicides and mechanical control. Aigen sees a path to further cost reductions that could make Element competitive with a broader range of conventional herbicide programs. Growers get a known per-acre weed control cost set before the season, plus plant-level data and field-level analytics from every pass.
What happens if a robot needs service during the season?
Aigen troubleshoots Element Gen 2 X4 remotely, and field service teams support all customers. Element is designed for 10,000 active operating hours or 8 years, and carries a two-year bumper-to-bumper warranty, including motors, regardless of operating hours, excluding normal wear and consumables. Extended warranty may be offered beyond two years.
What's next?
Element Gen 2 X4 fleets are available for the 2027 season. Aigen is hosting field demonstrations for growers and operators. Request a field demonstration at aigen.io.
About Aigen
Founded in 2020 by Richard Wurden and Kenny Lee, Aigen builds fully autonomous, solar-powered robots that deliver chemical-free, fossil-fuel-free weed control and crop intelligence for large-scale agriculture. Wurden, a former Tesla engineer, and Lee, a data and security leader, founded the company to remove harmful chemicals from the food supply and build the data foundation for autonomous agriculture. Aigen sells to enterprise OEMs, agribusiness, and farmers. Learn more at aigen.io.