March 28, 2012, St. Williams, Ont. — Will the new “Robot Farmers” being
launched this July at the second annual Canada’s Fruit & Veg Tech
X-Change become the future of farming?
March 28, 2012, St. Williams, Ont. — Will the new “Robot Farmers” being launched this July at the second annual Canada’s Fruit & Veg Tech X-Change become the future of farming?
One of the robots is geared for greenhouse irrigation duties.
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| 'Prospero' Robot Farmer for field crops. |
“The passion and determination of farmers drives them to efficiently produce the best product while running a profitable business,” says Iowa-based engineer David Dorhout. “This has led them to become early adopters of new technology. Robotics gives farmers the opportunity to free themselves from operating their equipment and concentrate on the business and science of farming.”
Dorhout R&D will be showing off “Prospero,” its field and row robotic unit. This spider-like robot is the working prototype of an Autonomous Micro Planter (AMP). It will eventually have the ability to plant, tend and harvest – autonomously transitioning from one phase to another, according to Dorhout.
Also making its world debut will be the “Aquarius” robot, designed to aid greenhouse operators with dispensing water and other nutrients to plants. This product will be ready for pre-order at the event.
“The technology is staggering and is designed to work with a farmer, not replace a farmer,” says says Tech X-Change GM and founder Jordon Underhill. “You cannot replace the chemical makeup of passion and determination that a human farmer exerts.”
This year’s Canada’s Fruit & Veg Tech X-Change will be held July 12-14.
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