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Agriculture
Agriculture
Iron Ox automates part of farming process with its robotic arms and movers
A startup robotics company called Iron Ox opened its first production facility in San Carlos, California on Oct. 3.
The company’s 8,000-square-foot indoor hydroponic facility is attached to its offices, and will produce leafy greens at a rate of roughly 26,000 heads a year, which is the production level of a typical outdoor farm that might be five times bigger, according to MIT Technology Review.
Iron Ox has 15 human employees that share their work space with robots that tend rows of leafy greens. Robotic arms individually pluck the plants from their hydroponic trays and transfer them to new trays as they increase in size, which maximizes their health and output. Robotic movers carry the 800-pound water-filled trays around the facility.
Farmers don't have to spend a fortune to benefit from UAS
UAS have a variety of potential uses in the agricultural sector, including to scout fields and spot insect infestations, weed problems and nutrient issues.
The technology can be the difference between taking hours to walk a field or seconds to scan it from above, experts say.
“I think that’s what we’re looking at — potential,” says Dr. Jarrod Miller of the University of Delaware Extension, via Lancaster Farming. During the 4R Technology Day held in Queenstown, Maryland on August 15, Miller conducted UAS demonstrations.
Pollen Systems unveils 'drone-aided managed service and self-service portal'
Pollen Systems Corporation has unveiled a “drone-aided managed service and self-service portal” called Pollen Scout, which helps farms and vineyards monitor crop growth, discover irrigation issues, and investigate pests and diseases.
Every week, commercially certified UAS technologists go to subscribing farms and vineyard sites and capture detailed pictures and spectral images using UAS. These pictures and images can help farmers quickly uncover and address common issues, ultimately helping improve crop yield and quality.
Pollen Systems unveiled Pollen Scout during the Woodinville, Washington annual Auction of Washington Wines, which provided a perfect venue to launch the company, and communicate with potential customers.
Purdue Extension offering UAS demonstrations to help Indiana farmers
This summer, Purdue Extension, which offers research-based information and expertise to millions of people in Indiana, will host a series of demonstrations throughout the state, to help Indiana farmers take full advantage of new UAS technology.
“This is perhaps the biggest innovation in agricultural technology I’ve seen,” says Bob Nielsen, Purdue Extension corn specialist for 36 years. “The possibilities for data collection are tremendous.”
Deveron UAS Corp launches its drone data services in the U.S. market
Deveron UAS Corp. has launched its drone data services in the U.S. market.
Deveron will now offer its UAS data services to its partners across the Midwestern United States, where there are some 127 million acres of farmland, according to the company.
“We are excited to be launching our drone data services network to US customers,” says Deveron’s President & CEO, David MacMillan.
Oakland University professor uses UAS to combat ill effects of climate change on crops in Africa
Oakland University professor Jon Carroll, Ph.D., is part of a team of scholars that is using UAS technology to “promote sustainable agriculture in Africa.”
Recently, Carroll, who is also an FAA-licensed UAS pilot and a Registered Professional Archaeologist, traveled to Liwonde, Malawi to work on a research project called “Precision Agriculture for Smallholder Systems in Africa,” which is helping farmers boost crop production in the face of emerging threats posed by climate change.
AeroVironment's automated Quantix hybrid UAS for farmers now available
AeroVironment, Inc. has announced that its automated Quantix hybrid UAS and AeroVironment Decision Support System (AV DSS) analytics software are now available for sale through its authorized reseller network.
According to AeroVironment, the technology is a “powerfully simple-to-use and fully integrated drone and data processing solution delivering actionable intelligence for the farm.”
Suncor Energy to use autonomous haulage systems at company-operated mines
Suncor Energy, which is a Canadian integrated energy company, has announced that it will proceed with the “phased implementation of autonomous haulage systems (AHS)” at company-operated mines, starting with the North Steepbank mine.
Over the next six years, Suncor expects to deploy more than 150 autonomous haul trucks in the full program, which will be “one of the largest investments in electric autonomous vehicles in the world,” according to the company.
Suncor has spent the past four years evaluating AHS technology, and the company has validated that this technology can be used “safely, effectively and efficiently in its operating environment.”
How do Drones Help Farmers?
Contributed article by Len Calderone, AgriTech Tomorrow
Drones are becoming a critical tool for farmers. Many farmers are already benefitting from drone (UAV) technology; and we’ve only scratched the surface of what this relatively new technology can do for agriculture.
