Robotics & Automation News

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agricultural robotics

Saga Robotics raises $11.2 million to commercialize its agricultural robot

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Saga Robotics, the company behind Thorvald, the robotic platform for growing and harvesting grapevine and strawberries, has raised $11.2 million in equity capital to scale its commercial operations in the UK and US.

The raise marks a pivotal moment as the company transitions from initial market traction to large-scale commercial adoption.

The round was backed by a strong mix of new and existing investors, including Praesidium Agri-FoodTech, a Luxembourg-based VC fund focused on scalable agtech solutions. [Read more…] about Saga Robotics raises $11.2 million to commercialize its agricultural robot

Rugged electric actuators provide reliable steering for extensible, self-driving platform 

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It’s all about autonomy. When a large global berry producer approached OxDrive co-founder and managing director Chris Horton with a request to provide an extensible, self-driving cart to transport soft fruit, he and co-founder Terence Goad saw a great opportunity for their advanced smart hub technology in the burgeoning electrification of agribusiness.

The client would handle all the robotics, route planning and AI guidance. OxDrive, a UK-based electric drive unit manufacturer, would design and build GoFAR, a self-driving platform outfitted for multiple transport purposes, integrating optical sensors, motors, transmissions and controls.

They just needed to find the right actuator to enable the steering. [Read more…] about Rugged electric actuators provide reliable steering for extensible, self-driving platform 

GreenBot unveils autonomous system for weeding woody crop areas

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The GreenBot project has taken a key step towards sustainable agriculture with the field deployment of a high-precision autonomous vehicle designed for the smart and localized control of weeds in woody crops such as almond, citrus, and olive trees.

This breakthrough, made possible thanks to a public-private partnership, integrates artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and machine vision to optimize the use of plant protection products, reduce costs, and mitigate the environmental impact of intensive farming. [Read more…] about GreenBot unveils autonomous system for weeding woody crop areas

BlueRedGold raises €2.7 million to commercialize indoor saffron production through robotics and automation

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PINC, the venture arm of international food company Paulig, has led a €2.73 million investment round in Swedish AgriTech innovator BlueRedGold, alongside The Food Tech Lab and PolarVentures.

The funding will accelerate the company’s development of the world’s first scalable indoor saffron cultivation system, enabled by advanced robotics and AI.

The investment marks a significant step in Paulig’s ambition to shape the future of food and reinforce its leadership in sustainability, while supporting PINC’s role in backing bold FoodTech solutions with global relevance. [Read more…] about BlueRedGold raises €2.7 million to commercialize indoor saffron production through robotics and automation

The autonomous future of farm vehicles: Interview with John Deere business manager Jesse Haecker

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This article was first published on December 1, 2022, and is being republished here because of technical problems with the previous version.

John Deere is, by most accounts, the world’s largest manufacturer of agricultural machinery – tractors, combine harvesters and so on. The 185-year-old American giant generated revenues of more than $61 billion in fiscal year 2023. 

The next three companies on the list are, in order, Kubota ($15 billion revenue), CNH Industrial ($11 billion), and AGCO ($9 billion). So Deere is clearly in the lead now, but one of those three companies – CNH Industrial – may be in a good position to grow its market share going forward because it launched a quite striking looking autonomous tractor a couple of years ago.

While CNH’s machine may look too futuristic for most farms, possibly leading people to believe it won’t take off any time soon, John Deere has nonetheless responded to the whole autonomous trend by launching its own driverless tractor (pictured below), which was showcased at the recent CES event. [Read more…] about The autonomous future of farm vehicles: Interview with John Deere business manager Jesse Haecker