Iron Ox, a California-based firm, has launched the world’s first fully autonomous farm, using robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) to grow vegetables. The company’s 8,000 sq ft indoor farm in San Carlos uses a robotic arm, which is programmed to plant seeds, water plants, and transfer heavy trays from one part of the facility to another.
The robotic arm works in tandem with a 1,000lb mobile robot, nicknamed Angus, which lifts and transports the trays. Both robots are overseen by a cloud-based AI technology called “The Brain,” which analyses data to optimise crop growth.
Iron Ox aims to address the labour shortage in the farming industry and reduce the environmental impact of traditional farming. The robotic farm uses 90% less water than traditional farming and the produce is pesticide-free.
The company plans to start selling its produce, including lettuce and basil, to restaurants and grocery stores in California from 2019. Despite scepticism from some quarters about the taste of robotically farmed produce, Iron Ox maintains that its crops are as tasty and nutritious as those grown traditionally. The company also aims to open similar farms near urban areas across the US, reducing the carbon footprint associated with transporting food.
Go to source article: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/oct/08/robot-farm-iron-ox-california