Kilter AX-1 by Kilter AS

Technology Overview

• Latest revision : 7/3/2026
• Commercial release date : Kilter grew out of the Asterix robot project at Adigo (development of first prototype began in 2010). The Asterix project became an autonomous company (Kilter) in February 2021 (First Kilter prototype)
• Application : The Kilter AX-1 kills post-emergence weeds reliably, slashing herbicide use by up to 95%.

Commercialisation Overview

• Technology Readiness Level (TRL) : 10: Market introduction - Full commercial operation
• Units in Service - Global : 11 to 50
• Business model : Direct sales / Distributor network
• Price : $151K to $250K
• Ongoing Costs : Around 5%

Market Coverage, Distributors and Service Suppliers

• Countries or markets addressed :

  Norway, Sweden, Germany, Netherlands, Australia

Performance & Economic Impact

• Estimated ROI :

  The AX-1 improves farm economics primarily by cutting ongoing input and labour costs while protecting and often improving crop output: its single-drop, high-precision spraying drastically reduces herbicide use and drift (so farmers spend less on chemicals and avoid crop phytotoxicity), it runs on very little fuel and modest maintenance, and it replaces much manual/mechanical weeding. The benefit is strongly timing-dependent (the robot works best at low-canopy stages) and highly sensitive to farm factors (crop value, weed pressure, hectares treated, local labour costs and subsidies), which ultimately determine the investment’s payback.

• Phytosanitary Product Savings :

  Single-drop, high-precision spraying drastically reduces herbicide use and drift (so farmers spend less on chemicals and avoid crop phytotoxicity).

• Yield Improvement :

  Those operational efficiencies, plus earlier, damage-free treatments, tend to raise crop quality and, in many trials, increase yield.

Technical specifications

• Type of solution : Smart/Precision Sprayer Technologies
• Power source : Electric with a small petrol generator
• Required Tractor Power : No need of tractor
• Size :
  • Metric: 220 × 215 × 150 cm
  • Imperial: 87 × 85 × 59 inch
• Net weight : Dry: 280 kg (617 lb) — Wet: 365 kg (805 lb)
• Min Farm Size (In hectares) : There’s no a minimum size.
• Productivity : 0.33 ha/hr (0.82 acres/hr)
• Maximum operating speed : 2 km/h (1.24 mph)
• Wheel spacing : Adjustable: From 155 cm to 200 cm (61.0 in – 78.7 in)
• Horse power : 2.4 HP

Functionalities and technologies

• Core Functionality : he AX-1 is an autonomous, droplet-based weeding robot that detects weeds and “prints” micro-droplets with 6×6 mm precision using patented Single-Drop Technology, reducing herbicide use by ~95%. It features RTK-based autonomy, crop-trained AI, and modular 5/6-unit spray booms, with a lightweight design (265/280 kg), low fuel consumption (~0.5 L/h), and 6–10 hours of operation. Remote monitoring (Kilter Remote), night capability, and simple safety systems ensure efficient use in the field. Robust hardware enables precise application via single-drop nozzles, supported by pumps, valves, and real-time pressure and tank monitoring, along with onboard power, boom height control, and integrated safety systems.
• Software : Advanced onboard software combines vision cameras, crop-trained AI, and edge computing (CPU/GPU) to detect, classify, and target crops with precision. Integrated RTK-GNSS, IMU sensors, and dual-antenna support ensure accurate positioning, while Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity enable data exchange and NTRIP corrections.
• Connectivity : The AX-1 is self-driving and runs on its onboard generator (it’s not pulled by a tractor during operation, but it can be carried between fields on a trailer or tractor carrier). It requires data connectivity: centimetre-level RTK corrections (via NTRIP, with PPP/SBAS as fallbacks) plus mobile/Internet for route upload, remote monitoring and updates. A local RTK base station is not strictly required because NTRIP/PPP/SBAS are supported.
• Compatible Tools : No tools are compatible with the robot since it’s a finished machine. It doesn’t need tools to operate properly.

Development Roadmap

• Next phase : Kilter continually invests in R&D, and the AX-1 was designed modularly so farmers can retrofit new hardware (nozzle modules, sensors, antennas, etc.) and receive software updates. Upgrades are delivered as field-installable kits or over-the-air updates and are supported by Kilter, allowing older machines to gain new capabilities (better navigation, support for new crops, improved uptime).

Additional resources

No additional resources available.