A new intelligent cotton-topping robot is nimbly working its way through fields in Changji, Xinjiang, its 108 mechanical arms precisely trimming plant tips with impressive speed and accuracy. The machine’s performance showcases a leap in automated, precision farming.

Topping — the removal of a plant’s apical bud — encourages side shoots so each boll gets more nutrients, becomes fuller, and matures more reliably. It is a key management step for stabilizing growth and boosting yields.

The demo robot uses advanced sensors and machine vision to spot terminal buds and mimic careful manual topping, offering an efficient, hands-off alternative. Developers say the breakthrough solves a long-standing mechanization challenge and marks a major move toward fully mechanized, smart cotton production.

Compared with traditional labor, the gains are dramatic. Manual topping averages about 2,000㎡ per person per day, while a laser topping machine can cover about 5,333㎡ per hour and operate 24 hours straight — delivering efficiency tens of times higher and a pass rate around 80 to 85 percent.