Robotics and automation in gardening can be quite challenging. For example, it is possible to increase crop yields while decreasing labor costs. But this requires that robotics be built with sustainability in mind. Read this article to learn about some of the challenges robotics face in agriculture. [Read more…] about Robotics and Automation in Gardening
Agriculture
Ag-tech startup Saga Robotics delivers ‘excellent results’ in ‘biggest season yet’
Saga Robotics says it has delivered “excellent results” in the company’s “biggest season yet”.
Last year, in what’s described as “a world-first”, the ag-tech company removed the requirement for fungicides to control strawberry powdery mildew. This season’s results consolidate the company’s status as a “stable and serious provider of automated integrated pest management”, according to Saga.
Saga Robotics is pleased to announce that its autonomous robotic platform, Thorvald has had its biggest season to date, operating and treating strawberry plants at Clock House Farm with UV-C light to control powdery mildew.
The ag-tech company says it achieved “complete control” of the pathogen treating all of Clock House Farm’s 30 hectares of tabletop crops. [Read more…] about Ag-tech startup Saga Robotics delivers ‘excellent results’ in ‘biggest season yet’
Monarch launches ‘first commercially available’ autonomous electric tractor
Monarch Tractor, maker of the MK-V, the fully electric, driver-optional, smart tractor, says the first tractors are now coming off the Founder Series production line at its headquarters and manufacturing facility in Livermore, California.
The rollout comes less than two years since Monarch unveiled its groundbreaking tractor that combines electrification, automation, and data analysis to help farmers reduce their carbon footprint, improve field safety, streamline farming operations, and increase their bottom lines.
Constellation Brands, the leading global premium, fine wine and craft spirits producer and largest beer importer in the US, has partnered with Monarch as its first customer, through its purchase of the first six Founder Series MK-V tractors. [Read more…] about Monarch launches ‘first commercially available’ autonomous electric tractor
Flexiv partners with Tick-Tek to create the farms of the future
Flexiv, the world’s leading general-purpose robotics company, is proud to announce that it has formed a strategic channel partnership with Singapore-based agritech and factory automation company Tick-Tek.
Focused on designing and manufacturing indoor farming machinery and complete production lines for large and small farms, Tick-Tek provides its clients with revolutionary agricultural technology that enables a complete indoor farming solution to be created.
Part of this revolutionary technology is Flexiv’s Rizon series of adaptive robots. Equipped with seven degrees of freedom, IP65 protection, artificial intelligence, and industry-leading force control, the Rizon 4, 4s, and 10 enable indoor farms to improve their processes and boost productivity. [Read more…] about Flexiv partners with Tick-Tek to create the farms of the future
How is AI Revolutionizing the World of Pest Control?
AI is one of the top new technologies in the pest control industry, as published in the report, Artificial Intelligence and IoT-Based Technologies for Sustainable Farming and Smart Agriculture.
Currently, the agricultural sector is facing big challenges owing to changes in the global climate. Increased precipitations, droughts, global warming, and extreme weather events have endangered traditional production and caused outbreaks of pests where they once were unproblematic.
As seeds, plants, and soils are exchanged internationally, pests are proliferating in many parts of the world and causing problems like pesticide resistance, secondary outbreaks, and a reduction in host plants’ resistance. [Read more…] about How is AI Revolutionizing the World of Pest Control?
Robotics Plus unveils autonomous modular vehicle to ‘alleviate agriculture labour shortages’
Robotics Plus, a New Zealand-based agritech company, has launched an autonomous multi-use, modular vehicle platform for agriculture designed to carry out a variety of orchard and vineyard machine tasks – to “alleviate ongoing labor shortages and transform the industry”.
The multi-purpose unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) can be supervised in a fleet of vehicles by a single human operator. The vehicle uses a combination of vision systems and other technologies to sense the environment – to optimize tasks and allow intelligent and targeted application of inputs such as sprays.
Growers will be able to rotate multiple tools on the highly adaptable and configurable agriculture platform, depending on the day’s work – for jobs such as spraying, weed control, mulching, mowing and crop analysis. [Read more…] about Robotics Plus unveils autonomous modular vehicle to ‘alleviate agriculture labour shortages’
GUSS Automation launches ‘cutting-edge’ autonomous herbicide sprayer
GUSS Automation has launched its new “cutting-edge” autonomous herbicide sprayer. Herbicide GUSS is the “first and only autonomous herbicide orchard sprayer on the market”, according to the company.
The high-tech herbicide sprayer removes the driver from the tractor to save labor and eliminate exposure to the chemicals being sprayed. A single operator can monitor any combination of up to eight GUSS, mini GUSS and Herbicide GUSS sprayers from the safety of their vehicle.
With growers looking to improve productivity, increase precision and efficiency, reduce operational and overhead costs, and enhance worker safety, GUSS says its new machine is “the solution to meet and exceed these needs”. [Read more…] about GUSS Automation launches ‘cutting-edge’ autonomous herbicide sprayer
Solinftec unveils new sprayer robot for farms
Solinftec, a global leader in agricultural digitalization, has unveiled a new sprayer robot for applications on farms and in agriculture.
The company says it is expanding its Solix Ag Robotics offerings. In addition to its Solix Scouting robot, the company has unveiled its Solix Sprayer robot designed to detect and spray weeds.
In partnership with the manufacturing, research, and development company, McKinney Corporation, who will produce and manufacture the Solix spray robot, this new cutting-edge technology is slated to become commercially available in 2023 to the entire agricultural market including farmers, cooperatives, and ag-retailers. [Read more…] about Solinftec unveils new sprayer robot for farms
FarmWise raises $45 million to expand AI-powered farm equipment
Farm automation startup FarmWise Labs has completed an oversubscribed $45 million Series B funding round, led by leading ag-tech venture firms Fall Line Capital and Middleland Capital, with participation from GV and Taylor Farms, a grower and processor of leafy greens and fresh vegetables.
Existing investors Calibrate Ventures, Playground Global, SVG Ventures and the venture arm of Wilbur Ellis also participated in the round. To date, FarmWise has raised $65 million in equity.
With this round, Clay Mitchell, co-founder and managing director of Fall Line Capital and a fifth-generation Iowa farmer joins the FarmWise board of directors. [Read more…] about FarmWise raises $45 million to expand AI-powered farm equipment
Continental and Octiva to develop autonomous mobile robots for agriculture
Continental and Dutch-Belgian technology company Octiva are partnering to develop autonomous mobile robotic solutions for horticulture applications.
The agreement follows Continental’s announcement that it has started the volume production of autonomous mobile robots for intralogistics.
The new AMRs being developed with Octiva will become part of Continental’s second product line “Agriculture” in the market of autonomous mobile robots. [Read more…] about Continental and Octiva to develop autonomous mobile robots for agriculture