Ultraviolet mild destroys pests and pathogens; the vacuum removes bugs — each chemical-free. | Credit score: TRIC Robotics
TRIC Robotics, which focuses on autonomous pest and plant illness management, has secured $5.5 million in seed funding. The corporate plans to scale its autonomous robots for specialty crop farming, beginning with strawberries—one of the crucial labor-intensive and pesticide-reliant crops.
“We’ve got made unimaginable progress, with our fleet of robots decreasing chemical substances on lots of of acres throughout California’s Central Coast,” acknowledged Adam Stager, founder and CEO of TRIC Robotics. “This new capital will speed up our progress, bringing in key group members and permitting us to rapidly increase with new areas and capabilities launching this summer time.”
“Automation is the important thing to unlocking higher effectivity on the farm — permitting farmers to develop extra with much less, with out damaging the planet,” he added.
Luna obtainable to farmers as a service
Farmers are underneath elevated stress to cut back chemical use, handle labor prices, and meet sustainability aims, famous TRIC Robotics. The San Luis Obispo, Calif.-based firm has positioned its robotic fleet as a substitute for conventional pesticide functions and guide labor.
TRIC has developed a tractor-scale robotic known as Luna to interchange conventional chemical sprays. The corporate mentioned its absolutely autonomous area robots use ultraviolet mild to regulate pests and illnesses with out harming the setting and vacuum know-how to take away bugs with out pesticides.
TRIC presents its know-how as a full-service answer to assist farmers enhance profitability whereas assembly the rising demand for chemical-free produce. This additionally produces recurring income. The corporate is initially specializing in strawberry cultivation, which it mentioned is among the most labor-intensive and pesticide-dependent crops.
The robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) providing features a data-driven platform with imaginative and prescient techniques and real-time area analytics. In line with TRIC, pilot packages have proven reductions in pesticide use by as much as 70%.
TRIC participated within the Pitchfire competitors at RoboBusiness 2023, which gave it a few of its first publicity to the robotics funding neighborhood.
TRIC Robotics to develop its fleet
Model One Ventures led TRIC Robotics’ spherical. Storage Capital, Todd and Rahul Capital, Valor Fairness Companions, Lucas Enterprise Group, Spacecadet, and Redstick Ventures additionally participated. The startup additionally acquired funding from a gaggle of strategic angel traders, together with the founders of Clearpath Robotics and New Chief Manufacturing.
Current traders, together with Undeterred Capital, Embark Ventures, Soundboard Enterprise Fund, and Central Coast Ventures, additionally participated. TRIC mentioned it plans to make use of the seed funding to increase its robotic fleet, improve operations into new farming areas of California akin to Oxnard and Watsonville, and develop additional automation and analytics options.
The corporate reported that its robotic fleet has doubled up to now 12 months, with 9 robots in operation and three extra in manufacturing. Tric mentioned it has coated lots of of acres in industrial service. It asserted that Luna may help farmers improve profitability of high-value crops whereas assembly demand for chemical-free produce.
“Our mission is to offer farmers the instruments they should develop extra with much less, with out damaging the planet,” mentioned Stager. “This funding accelerates our progress to convey chemical-free options to farmers throughout main specialty crop rising areas in California.”
