Small Robot Company Dick — Specs & Review
Specifications
| Brand | Small Robot Company |
|---|---|
| Model | Dick |
| Year | 2020 |
| Category | Agricultural |
| Autonomy | fully-autonomous |
| Environment | outdoor |
| Connectivity | GPS, 4G/LTE, Wi-Fi, Cloud Platform |
| Country of origin | GB |
Key features
- Per-plant precision electrical weeding (no herbicides)
- High-voltage root destruction — weed cannot regrow
- Tom map-guided precision targeting
- Operates in wet conditions (unlike mechanical weeding)
- No soil disturbance — preserves soil structure
- Electric autonomous operation
- Organic farming compatible
What is it?
The Small Robot Company Dick is the weed control robot in the Tom-Dick-Harry precision farming system. Using plant location maps generated by Tom, Dick navigates to individual weed positions and applies high-voltage electrical pulses to destroy weed roots — a herbicide-free weeding method with precision targeting impossible with broadcast spraying.
Who is it for?
Arable farmers targeting herbicide reduction or elimination. Organic farmers seeking an autonomous mechanical/electrical weed control solution for row crops. Farms under regulatory pressure from herbicide reduction mandates or resistance management programmes.
Key specs
- Function: Per-plant precision electrical weeding
- Weeding method: High-voltage electrical pulse (root destruction)
- Navigation: Uses Tom-generated plant map for targeting
- Herbicide use: None — fully herbicide-free
- Power: Electric
- Integration: Requires Tom mapping data
- Origin: UK
The electrical weeding approach
Dick uses electrical weeding technology that delivers a calibrated high-voltage pulse directly to the weed root system, destroying the plant's ability to regrow without soil disturbance. Unlike mechanical weeding, electrical weeding works in wet conditions and does not disturb soil structure or weed seed banks.
How it compares
Dick competes with Naïo Oz (mechanical weeding), EcoRobotix ARA (spot-spraying), and John Deere See & Spray (herbicide spot-spray). Dick's electrical method is the only approach that eliminates herbicide use entirely while operating at per-plant precision — the strongest position for herbicide resistance management and organic compliance.
Limitations
- Requires Tom robot data to operate (not standalone)
- Electrical weeding throughput per day limited by robot speed
- Technology still maturing for broad commercial deployment
- High-voltage system requires appropriate operator safety protocols
FAQ
How does electrical weeding work?
Dick applies a calibrated high-voltage electrical pulse directly to the weed root system, disrupting the plant's cellular structure and destroying its ability to regrow. The pulse is targeted to the weed root rather than the leaf surface, preventing regrowth without chemical residue.
Does Dick require Tom to operate?
Yes. Dick uses the per-plant field map generated by Tom to navigate to weed positions for targeted electrical treatment. Dick cannot operate as a standalone precision weeder without Tom's mapping data.
Is electrical weeding approved for organic farming?
Electrical weeding uses no chemical inputs and does not disturb soil in a way prohibited by organic standards. However, operators should confirm compliance with their specific certification body's equipment rules.
What is the weeding throughput of Dick?
Throughput depends on weed population density and field configuration. Small Robot Company provides operational capacity estimates during the system assessment process for specific farm contexts.