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Augmenta makes VRA fertilisation 100% autonomous

08-10-2019 | |
Augmenta makes VRA fertilisation 100% autonomous
Augmenta makes VRA fertilisation 100% autonomous

Augmenta has released the commercial version of their real-time variable rate application system powered by computer vision.

Augmenta’s 6 to 12 multispectral camera system retrofits to already owned agricultural machinery like tractors, sprayers or spreaders. By utilising instantaneous image processing and AI, the system decides on the amount of farm inputs (e.g. fertilisers) every inch of the field actually needs and immediately applies it by controlling the rate of sprayer/spreader application, through various machinery communication protocols(e.g. Isobus).

Fertilising 100% autonomous

Achieving a resolution of 1.5mm/pixel/camera, Augmenta says it’s first offering, called Augmented Agriculture, makes an operation like fertilising with nitrogen 100% autonomous and one order of magnitude more efficient compared to traditional applications.

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Augmenta's 6 to 12 multispectral camera system retrofits to already owned agricultural machinery like tractors, sprayers or spreaders. - Photos: Augmenta

Augmenta’s 6 to 12 multispectral camera system retrofits to already owned agricultural machinery like tractors, sprayers or spreaders. – Photos: Augmenta

Augmenta further states the system is designed to work according to normal farm operation schedules, without the need for any additional time-consuming procedures, such as logistics and elaborate calibrations. “The farmers simply have to drive their tractor, sprayer or spreader on the farm like they always do and Augmenta takes care of the rest,” says the company.

Used on more than 26 thousand acres

Augmenta released the alpha version of the product at the 2019 World Ag Expo in Tulare, California. It has since then been installed and tested in 8 different countries and used on more than 26 thousand acres.

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By utilising instantaneous image processing and AI, the system decides on the amount of farm input  every inch of the field actually needs and immediately applies it by controlling the rate of sprayer/spreader application.

By utilising instantaneous image processing and AI, the system decides on the amount of farm input every inch of the field actually needs and immediately applies it by controlling the rate of sprayer/spreader application.

The system is now commercially available, automating nitrogen fertilisation. Augmenta’s R&D team is currently working on additional crop operations like pesticide and fungicide spraying, as well as specialised operations in vineyards and industrial tomato farms.

New operations will be offered via over-the-air software updates, eliminating the need to buy extra hardware.

Augmenta Raises $ 2.5m Seed Round

Augmenta today also announced the completion of a $ 2.5m Seed Financing round led by San Francisco based Hardware Cluband Athens based Marathon Venture Capital. The investment is to help the company expand its operations in North and South America and deliver against rapidly growing demand.

Claver
Hugo Claver Web editor for Future Farming





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