SwarmFarm and Bosch combine to redevelop the SwarmBot platform before commercial release to Farmers
- By: "Farm Tender" News
- Ag Company News
- Nov 15, 2017
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• SwarmFarm and Bosch join forces to develop agricultural robots
• SwarmBot is a connected, mobile and autonomous robotic platform designed and developed by SwarmFarm
• Bosch is providing mechanical engineering expertise, system design knowledge and manufacturing & component supply to the new, redesigned SwarmBot platform
SwarmFarm announced today a new partnership with Bosch Australia to develop its next generation of agricultural robots that will transform the way farming enterprises manage their crops.
Recent trends have seen farming equipment such as tractors, sprayers and planting equipment become increasingly larger and more complex.
This trend is unsustainable due to the limitations of current farming practices. Traditional tractors and current generation driverless commercial technologies are confined by what can be attached to the back of the vehicles and the inputs they can carry.
SwarmFarm has developed the SwarmBot technology platform to deliver a paradigm shift in efficiency to farmers. This technology will enable farmers to undertake new field practices and deploy technology into their farming systems through the use of swarms” of smart, mobile and automated robots.
SwarmFarm founder and CEO, Andrew Bate, said the new partnership with Bosch was a major milestone for the company following the official launch of its ground-breaking autonomous
SwarmBot robots, which have been deployed in Australia since 2016.
“The SwarmBot is not a driverless tractor, just as the tractor was not an evolution of the horse drawn plough. Horses were completely replaced. The next revolution in farming will not be underpinned by a tractor.” Mr Bate said.
The SwarmBot platform is an entirely new development that has evolved from the ground up. It utilises robotic technology and an ecosystem of independent developers that will create modular technology for application to the platform. Robotic agriculture will enable farmers to achieve consistency previously unattainable using traditional farming methods. This will increase yields and decrease inputs.
The innovative Queensland start-up will work with the leading global supplier of technology and services, to redesign its unique SwarmBot robotic platform for commercial production. In its partnership with Bosch, SwarmFarm will develop the final production model of the SwarmBot ahead of commercial sales to farmers in mid-2018.
“We’re incredibly excited to be working together with Bosch in a joint development to redesign the SwarmBot robotic platform for commercial production,” Mr Bate said, “This new partnership will ensure that we can begin manufacture and delivery of our new robot design to early-adopter farmers in the new year. We’re proud to be developing this cutting-edge technology in partnership with Bosch.”
Bosch brings mechanical engineering expertise, system design knowledge and automotive industry know-how to the redesign of the SwarmBot platform.
“We are entering the 4th revolution in agriculture, which now includes automation, sensing equipment, cloud computing and real-time data usage, to realise efficiencies in the agricultural value chain” explained Gavin Smith, President of Bosch Australia. “We are delighted to be partnering with SwarmFarm to help bring about this transformation in Australian farming and the rest of the world.”
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