TYM Launches ‘Aigamo Robo’ in Korea…Autonomous Robot That Suppresses Rice Paddy Weeds Without Herbicides

Against this backdrop, agricultural machinery company TYM announced on the 4th that it has officially launched in Korea “Aigamo Robo,” an autonomous robot that suppresses weed emergence in rice paddies. The product was developed by Japan’s NEWGREEN and has been sold locally by ISEKI. TYM responded to written questions from the Korea Agricultural Technology Newspaper by compiling answers from relevant departments. A TYM official said, “We introduced the Japanese product as is, without making separate modifications for Korea’s field sizes, water management methods, or weed species,” adding, “We conducted sufficient testing in Korea before the launch.”
 

Muddies paddy water to block sunlight and prevent weed germination

Aigamo Robo is not equipment that pulls out weeds that have already grown. It operates through a “suppression” method that creates an environment in which weeds have difficulty growing. As the robot travels through a paddy and stirs up soil with its lower brushes, the paddy water becomes cloudy. The clouded water blocks sunlight, interfering with weed photosynthesis, while settled mud particles cover weed seeds and prevent germination.

The unit weighs 6 kg and primarily uses solar power. It detects paddy levees and changes direction on its own, and its driving path can be checked remotely, it can be called, and anti-theft functions can be managed through a satellite navigation system (GPS) and a dedicated app. It operates for up to 10 hours a day and manages about 1.5 ha (4,500 pyeong). The recommended use period is three to five weeks from the rooting stage after rice transplanting.
 

Weed suppression rate based on dry weight…about 75% lower than in non-operated areas

Ahead of the launch, TYM conducted domestic paddy field verification with Chonnam National University. The company divided areas into robot-operated and non-operated zones and compared weed emergence on a weekly basis.

According to TYM’s press release, Professor Oh Ju-seon of Chonnam National University’s Department of Convergence Biosystems Mechanical Engineering explained, “The weed suppression rate of Aigamo Robo confirmed in this verification rose sharply from 47.39% in week 2 to 74.91% in week 3,” adding, “This means that the turbidity generated by the robot and a light-blocking rate of about 96% accumulated and very effectively prevented the early growth of weeds, and in fact, when tests were conducted in the areas where the robot operated, not a single weed was collected.”

According to TYM, the suppression rate is not based on the number of weeds, but on a comparison of the average dry weight measured after drying weeds collected from the robot-operated and non-operated areas. The 74.91% figure in week 3 means that the weight of weeds in the robot-operated area was about 75% lower than in the non-operated area. A TYM official explained, “The fact that not a single weed was collected in the operated area means there were no weeds collected at the relevant survey and collection points,” adding, “It does not mean that 100% of the weeds in the entire field were removed.”

TYM explained that the device’s effectiveness may vary depending on weed species and weather. The company said that, in principle, a suppression effect can be expected not only on annual weeds such as barnyardgrass but also on perennial weeds such as water chestnut. However, TYM explained that it is difficult to achieve the same level of effect on weeds that have already grown considerably as on young weeds. It added that because light blocking is the core principle, the effect may be lower on cloudy days or during the rainy season than on clear days.
 

No negative impact on rice growth confirmed…Japan saw yield rise by about 10%

Regarding the impact of muddy water on rice, a TYM official said, “There was a temporary increase in turbidity, but no change was confirmed at a level that would affect the accumulated temperature for rice,” adding, “So far, no significant negative impact on rice growth has been confirmed.”
 

In field verification in Japan, cases were reported in which robot operation increased yield by about 10%. By contrast, Chonnam National University’s verification has not yet reached harvest. A TYM official answered, “Whether the same level of yield increase appears in Korea will have to be confirmed through harvest verification.”

The possibility of damage to young seedlings must also be managed through usage conditions. TYM presented, as prerequisites for robot operation, that seedlings be sufficiently thick and sturdy and well rooted, and that the paddy surface be evenly leveled. The explanation is that even within the same paddy, the rooting timing differs for each seedling, so differences in the growth of some seedlings may occur depending on the timing of operation. TYM provides prior training to purchasing farms through dealerships.
 

Domestic selling price undisclosed…after-sales service through provincial plaza system

TYM did not disclose the domestic selling price, citing its dealership sales and distribution method. Regarding whether it would be included in eco-friendly agriculture subsidy programs or agricultural machinery rental programs, the company answered, “We plan to review and proceed if customers need it.”

Because one unit covers about 1.5 ha and is used for only three to five weeks a year, farmers inevitably may question the payback period for the investment. A TYM official said, “It is not appropriate to calculate the payback period based only on the equipment purchase cost,” adding, “It should be judged through a comprehensive economic feasibility analysis that includes not only herbicide costs but also reductions in spraying frequency, labor costs, and work time.”

TYM operates after-sales service through a provincial plaza system. It assigns specialized personnel who have completed technical training to provide in-house responses. For parts, TYM first secured key parts for responding to initial failures recommended by ISEKI, which has sold the product in Japan, and plans to expand its parts inventory in line with growth in the number of units sold. TYM explained that even in Japan, no major failures have occurred other than consumable parts replacement.

Whether Aigamo Robo will actually ease the weeding burden in eco-friendly rice farming depends on the harvest results of Chonnam National University’s verification in fall 2026, the domestic selling price, and whether it is included in eco-friendly agriculture subsidy programs and agricultural machinery rental programs.