TerraClear has introduced TerraScout, an autonomous field robot designed to collect high-resolution imagery across large-acre row crop fields and convert that data into real-time prescriptions and mission plans for existing farm equipment. The system is intended to support rock and weed management and other agronomic applications by integrating image collection, data processing and field execution.
Founded in 2017, TerraClear reports that it has mapped nearly 1 million acres at high resolution and worked with more than 1,000 farm operations. The company initially focused on generating artificial intelligence-based rock maps to assist farmers with rock removal. It has since expanded into AI-driven weed identification and management. According to the company, these applications have demonstrated returns on investment exceeding five times the cost of adoption.
TerraScout is designed to collect imagery at a resolution of 1 millimeter ground sample distance, generating billions of image samples per acre. The robot uses onboard edge computing to process image data in real time and produce actionable maps while operating in the field. TerraClear states that the system can map more than 1,000 acres per day at speeds of up to 15 miles per hour, with a 60-foot mapping swath. The unit is capable of operating autonomously for up to six hours without refueling and is equipped with onboard lighting to enable continuous operation in varying light and weather conditions.
The platform produces mission plans tailored to specific field conditions. For rock management, TerraScout detects rocks measuring eight inches or larger and generates optimized picking paths intended to improve removal efficiency. In weed management, the system analyzes fields on a one-square-foot grid to assess weed density, with planned enhancements to identify species and growth stage. Mission plans can be transmitted to spray drones and ground-based sprayers. The system also performs stand counts and evaluates crop emergence quality during the same pass used for weed mapping.
Devin Lammers, chief executive officer of TerraClear, said the company aims to replace “field-level guesswork with plant-level precision to slash input costs and maximize yields.” He added that while the current focus is on rock and weed management, the platform is intended to support additional applications as new models are developed.
Don Scribner, head of product at TerraClear, said the system shifts field scouting from manual observation and satellite imagery to continuous, full-field digital data collection. He noted that onboard satellite connectivity allows maps to be transmitted to a mobile application before the robot leaves the field.
Field trials began earlier in the year, and TerraClear plans to expand trials to retail partners and selected farmers in the spring of 2026.
