FarmWise, a developer of adaptive robots for agriculture, has announced a collaboration with Roush, a full-service product development supplier, to develop and test autonomous vegetable weeders in Michigan.
As part of the initial contract between the two, FarmWise and Roush will develop a dozen prototypes of the self-driving robots this year, with plans to scale to additional units in 2020.
“These are many of the key ingredients we need to manufacture and test our machines,” says Thomas Palomares, co-founder and chief technology officer of FarmWise.
Agriculture
Agriculture
ADAMA and Tactical Robots partner to develop UAS for aerial spraying
Global crop protection company ADAMA Ltd. has partnered with Israeli aerospace company Tactical Robotics Ltd. in a joint feasibility study for a High-Payload, UAS for aerial spraying.
Tactical Robotics has developed the Cormorant, which is a multi-role, compact, high payload, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) UAS. Capable of carrying an effective payload of more than 500 kilograms (up to 764 kilograms including fuel), the UAS can perform a variety of tasks, from logistics and cargo services to fire-fighting and aerial spraying.
SenseFly and MicaSense unveil senseFly eBee X with MicaSense RedEdge-MX
SenseFly and MicaSense have introduced the senseFly eBee X with MicaSense RedEdge-MX, a new dual platform for efficient, in-depth crop analysis.
Described as a “rugged, built-to-last” professional multispectral sensor, the RedEdge-MX captures red, green, blue, near-infrared, and red-edge spectral bands. The data that the RedEdge-MX captures can be used to generate true color composites, basic crop health indexes, and advanced analytical tools like flower identification and weed detection.
SenseFly and MicaSense say that this capability, combined with the sensor’s durable design, makes RedEdge-MX a “multispectral powerhouse.”
Cambridge Consultants unveils Mamut autonomous robot for agriculture
Cambridge Consultants has unveiled its autonomous robot, Mamut, which is built to explore crop fields, and capture data on health and yield at the level of individual plants on a large scale.
According to Cambridge Consultants, Mamut automates data capture, providing growers with regular, precise and actionable information on their crops, which allows them to predict and optimize yields.
Powered by artificial intelligence, Mamut is equipped with a wide range of sensors, and can map and navigate its surroundings without GPS or a fixed radio infrastructure. Its cameras capture detailed crop data at the plant level as it makes its way through rows of a field, orchard or vineyard, allowing for accurate predictions of yield and crop health.
Corteva Agriscience to use DroneDeploy in its fleet of more than 400 UAS
Corteva Agriscience, which is the agricultural division of chemical company DowDuPont, has announced a global agreement with DroneDeploy to use DroneDeploy in its fleet of more than 400 DJI UAS across its global Seed Production and Supply Chain, as well as its Pioneer Strategic Account Management and Agronomy teams in the U.S., Canada, Brazil and Europe.
“This agreement fortifies Corteva Agriscience as a leader in the use of advanced UAV technology,” says Jeremy Groeteke, Corteva Agriscience U.S. Digital Agriculture Lead.
DroneSeed partners with Nature Conservancy to restore Oregon rangelands using drone swarms
In an effort to help conserve the ecosystem and imperiled species such as the sage-grouse, a company called DroneSeed that restores forests and rangelands using drone swarms has signed a contract with the Nature Conservancy Oregon to use drone swarms to restore rangelands affected by invasive species and re-seed native plants.
By partnering with DroneSeed, the Nature Conservancy will have access to UAS swarm technology designed to scale to plant and protect significant acreage while planting in precision areas to boost survival rates.
AgEagle Aerial Systems launches new university specific drone offering at two universities
AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. has announced the launch of a new university specific drone offering for 2019.
AgEagle has entered into a new UAS program agreement with Modesto Junior College (MJC) in Modesto, California, in an effort to ultimately enhance the curriculum of the school's agriculture technology department. This agreement builds on a sale to Arkansas State University - Newport (ASU) last year by Agribotix, which AgEagle acquired in August 2018.
The John Lewis Partnership partners with Small Robot Company to test its farmbots
The John Lewis Partnership, which is an employee-owned UK company that operates John Lewis & Partners department stores and Waitrose & Partners supermarkets, has announced a three-year trial with the Small Robot Company to test its farmbots at John Lewis Partnership’s farm in Leckford, Hampshire.
The Small Robot Company’s three small robots—Tom, Dick and Harry—will be used at the Leckford Estate to learn and test this farming technology on a one-hectare wheat field. The Leckford Estate grows produce for Waitrose & Partners.
AgEagle Aerial Systems signs specialty crop producer to its new sustainability platform and UAS leasing program
UAS imagery and data analytics provider AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. has signed a specialty crop producer, packager, and supplier in North America to its new sustainability platform and UAS leasing program for next year’s crop season.
Under the agreement, AgEagle will provide the customer with access to UAS equipped with sensors for the growing season, along with access to data connected services for farms covering thousands of acres across the United States.
In-depth data analytics at the field level will also be provided, thanks to AgEagle also establishing a network of soil moisture monitoring devices with rain gauges and solar sensors.
NAICC Annual Meeting and AG PRO EXPO
The NAICC Annual Meeting and AG PRO EXPO will be take place at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center in Savannah, Georgia, January 15-19, 2019. Come join our talented ag professionals as and participate in the AG PRO EXPO Trade Show attend the outstanding program featuring timely topics for Crop Consultants, Research Consultants and Quality Assurance Professionals.