Agriculture

GUSS Automation’s autonomous, precision orchard spraying solution provides growers with a rapid ROI, along with other benefits such as simplified operations, increased efficiency, enhanced safety and reduced labor costs.

It is advanced software, working in conjunction with hardware systems, that has driven the commercial drone sector to new heights. Similarly, software is the key capabilities enabler for other types of robotics systems going forward, including mobile robots.

In Episode 50 of The Robot Report Podcast, Dan Leibfried, Director, Autonomy and Automation, John Deere, and Igino Cafiero, Co-founder & CEO, Bear Flag Robotics, discuss Deere’s recent acquisition of Bear Flag robotics for $250 million.

In this session, Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman are joined by Dan Kara, VP of the Robotics Group at WTWH Media, to discuss how the RBR50 has evolved over the years, how the 50 winners were selected, and the many forms of innovation.

Most industry experts agree that the technological capabilities for driverless tractors are there… and many farmers and technology providers believe it is more a matter of “when” than “if.”

RBR essential announcements for the interval ranging from March 12 – 19, 2021 include notices from FORT Robotics, Piaggio Fast Forward, Trimble, Monarch Tractor, Cruise and AEye.

In this podcast, Helen Greiner, the CEO of Tertill, discusses the development of the company’s consumer class weeding robots. Also covered is Aurora’s partnership with Toyota to develop robotaxis.

In this RoboBusiness Direct session, a panel of agricultural robotics thought leaders discuss the agricultural robotics sector, including existing solutions, enabling technologies and ongoing opportunities.

In this podcast, American Robotics CEO Reese Mozer, CEO of American Robotics, the first drone company approved by the FAA to operate automated drones without human operators, discusses BVLOS. Also, Boston Dynamics’ Founder Marc Raibert reflects on dancing humanoids.

FarmDroid’s robotic agricultural sowing and weeding solution allows earth to be cultivated in an ecological and CO2 neutral way, and unlike heavy equipment, the lightweight FarmDroid robot limits structural damage to the soil.

Sustainability initiatives, workforce uncertainty and productivity requirements are key demands drivers for Monarch’s electric, autonomous, tractor solution, a harbinger of the emerging era of data driven, digital farming.

The FarmWise agricultural weeding-as-a-service solution, which leverages computer vision, machine learning and robotics technologies, can be optimized for different crops, soil types, and growth stages.

Although robotics investments, mergers, and acquisitions may have dropped a bit in October 2020, autonomous vehicles, drones, and healthcare applications continued to receive funding.

Companies continue to come to market with robotics solutions that seek to remedy the agricultural sector’s ongoing labor shortage challenge, especially pronounced in advanced economies, as well as the need to pay a living wage to workers.

Agricultural weeding is a costly and labor-intensive task, and chemical methods, while effective, are expensive and often have negative environmental consequences associated with them. Sensing a business opportunity and a chance for promoting social good, a number of companies offering robotic weeding systems have entered the market. Compared to traditional approaches, their solutions reduce the cost and environmental impact of weeding operations.

Greater sensing, data collection and deep learning that exploit farmers’ collective wisdom can enable closed-loop control systems that deliver on the promise of true autonomy on the farm. Such autonomy, including autonomous plowing, would free up precious time for the farmer, and deliver greater agricultural yield and consistency of outcome.

The total number of robotics transactions held steady year over year, but the autonomous vehicle and manufacturing automation providers received less investment. Healthcare systems, field robots, and drones got funding in September 2020.

Despite the ongoing pandemic, robotics investment and acquisition activity did not slow down in August 2020, with funding flowing to autonomous vehicles, industrial automation, and drones.

Farming is a major emitter of greenhouse emissions. But a whole host of companies are working on methods of reducing the environmental impact of farming by altering farming methods, and employing new technologies, including robotics systems.

The novel coronavirus pandemic slowed global manufacturing as investors look to the future of transportation.

Industrial Robot’s Joanne Pransky sits down with Vision Robotics COO to discuss the company’s road to developing robotic pruners, weeders and lettuce thinners.

Drone providers AeroVironment and Draganfly are widening distribution of the Quantix Mapper system, just in time for planting season in the Northern Hemisphere.

Field robots, industrial automation, self-driving vehicles, and healthcare systems received funding in February 2020.

AeroVironment, which claims to be the largest supplier of drones to the U.S. military, is also an example of a pure-play robotics company that is profitable.

In January 2020, robotics investments and mergers and acquisitions showed continued strength across applications, even as economic challenges affected manufacturing and food service robots.