Research into robotic dairy barns shows that improvements in nutrition, management, housing, and herd demographics benefit both cows and producers. Robert Matson, a Wallenstein Feed and Supply Ltd. ruminant nutritionist, shared findings from a 2018 study involving 197 automated milking systems (AMS), including 75 in Ontario, during Grey Bruce Farmers’ Week Dairy Day last month. […] Read more
Tag Archives robotics — page 3
Automated milk production can be optimized with tech and management
Research shows sand bedding and increased space lower lameness rates
GEA software upgrades boost milking system’s cost effectiveness
Box time reduced by up to 26 seconds in new R9500 model
An upgraded version of German technology manufacturer GEA’s automated milking system, newly available in North America, allows producers to run up to four milking robots from one supply unit for power and water and decrease time-per-cow in the robot by up to 26 seconds. “We’re excited to help push farm efficiency even further,” said GEA […] Read more
Bothwell business establishes autonomous working group
Haggerty Creek Ltd. expands applied research into farm robotics
Autonomous equipment is not a new pursuit for the team at Haggerty Creek Ltd. It established an autonomous working group in 2021 and now the elevator, equipment dealer and ag-service provider hopes to push the development of autonomous field technologies further through collaborative field research. “We started the working group so we could coordinate our […] Read more
Supplementing — not replacing — large tractors with autonomy
There are opportunities for small robots on small grain farms
There is ample opportunity for robots on small farms if prices can fit with lower economies of scale. That philosophy is the driving force behind Maryland-based ag-tech start-up Easton Robotics. According to founder and chief executive officer Jeff Chandler, however, the idea that small farmers will replace their big tractors with autonomous vehicles, or use […] Read more
Producers might farm-out robotic agricultural tools services
Whether it’s a drone in the air, a soil sampler in the field or picking tools, it’s a service
Glacier FarmMedia – Agricultural robots have opened the door for more farm operations to be contracted out to service companies. The pace of new robotic-based agricultural platforms developed and tested on North American fields is accelerating, and many of these companies are targeting a service model for their business plan. Traditional ag retailers plan to […] Read more
UK start-up hopes to bring asparagus harvesting robot to Canada
International innovation partnerships open new doors for bringing technologies to North America
An emerging network of international partnerships has resulted in a United Kingdom-based agri-tech start-up looking to bring its automated asparagus harvesting robot to Canada. Muddy Machines is in the first cohort of a virtual residency program focused on advanced manufacturing technology. It is hosted by the MaRS Discovery District in Toronto in partnership with Innovate […] Read more
Bill Gates’ green tech fund bets on farming robots
As some parts of North America struggle under a crippling drought, a California startup that believes robots can grow produce more sustainably has raised US$50 million in a funding round led by Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures. Iron Ox uses robots that are integrated with a hydroponic system consuming 90 per cent less water than […] Read more
Open access a precision sprayer option
Australian researchers publish free plans and codes for automated spot spraying tool
Interested in building your own precision sprayer? If the answer is yes, design plans and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms are now freely available from the University of Sydney’s Precision Weed Control Lab, a research group developing site-specific weed control strategies. 2020 and 2021 saw the release and promotion of an open-source tool – or more […] Read more
Robo-coop automates the work of pasturing poultry and pigs
Ukko Robotics’ Rova Barn is self-moving and programmable
Glacier FarmMedia – One could say the origin story of the robotic Rova Barn began with a young kid on a dairy farm who wanted to go to the beach, or on a family road trip, or just to Grandma’s for Sunday dinner. But milking chores had to trump adventure. “We didn’t go on holidays […] Read more
Two Ontario farms to test automated mushroom harvesting system
Creating a system that can select the right mushrooms without bruising is the challenge
The vision of an automated harvesting system for the mushroom industry recently took a significant step closer to becoming a reality. The federal government, through its national supercluster for advanced manufacturing, Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen), announced almost $4.2 million in funding to improve the mushroom harvesting system that Putnam,Ont.-based Mycionics Inc. has been developing. […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
