Advanced Farm Technologies
Advanced Farm Technologies developed robotic harvesting systems for agriculture before its acquisition by CNH Industrial.
Founded
2017Advanced Farm Technologies developed robotic harvesting systems for agriculture before its acquisition by CNH Industrial.
Advanced Farm Technologies designs and builds most of its hardware and software in-house, from the chassis and electric drive system to the computer-vision stack and robotic grippers. This vertical integration allows faster iteration and easier adaptation to new crops.
Its machines are designed for open-field, in-soil conditions rather than controlled greenhouse environments, giving them broader applicability in the U.S. strawberry and apple markets. The company also has strong grower partnerships that provide real-world feedback loops.
Source: agfundernews.com
Labor shortages and rising hand-picking costs are driving demand for agricultural automation in the U.S. strawberry and apple sectors. Robotic harvesters that can operate around the clock offer a path to more stable production and lower per-unit labor costs.
As large equipment manufacturers such as CNH Industrial integrate specialty-crop robotics into their portfolios, the market is likely to consolidate around platforms with proven field performance and strong grower relationships.
Source: media.cnh.com
The TX Robotic Strawberry Harvester automatically senses and picks ripe strawberries from in-soil beds using stereo cameras, real-time machine learning, and food-grade soft grippers. It operates up to 24 hours a day alongside human crews.
The company also developed an apple-picking robot with six vision-guided arms designed to harvest ripe apples from orchard trees. Both systems aim to reduce labor costs and address chronic workforce shortages in specialty-crop agriculture.
Source: businesswire.com