It’s no secret that artificial intelligence and robotics are revolutionizing how farmers produce food. To continue the trend, new collaborative efforts between Solinftec, Stillwater Manufacturing, and Wabash Heartland Innovation Network are looking to make robotic technology more accessible to America’s producers.
The three companies, in partnership, have expanded production of the Solix robot in the WHIN region of Indiana, strengthening Solinftec’s U.S. presence with the hopes of promoting sustainable agriculture.
The use of Solinftec solutions has already led to a significant reduction of herbicide volume on properties using the Solix robot in the United States, thanks largely to AI-driven scouting accuracy, targeted spraying, and addressing weed control in the early stages. The key differentiator is that, through the collaboration of the three companies, the solutions will be adapted to the reality of the American Midwest.
“This partnership represents a significant milestone for the US agricultural industry, and it’s gratifying to see two companies from our network bringing innovation to our region. Collaboration among all parties was crucial to the success of this project,” wrote Johnny Park, CEO of WHIN, in a news release.
The factory has the capacity to produce up to 20 Solix robots per day.
“There’s something truly special about building these robots in rural Indiana. They will come out of what used to be a school, where many farmers and livestock producers in this area received their primary education. This venture is an opportunity to ‘rewrite’ history. A dear friend of mine often says, ‘If you want to know the future, go build it,’” Church states.
Over $2 million has been invested in the next two harvests to ensure annual growth.
“This will be the first agricultural robotics factory in the American Midwest,” added the CEO of Still Waters Manufacturing. The team involved in Solix manufacturing will consist of workers living near the region served by Still Waters Manufacturing, with many of them being local farmers. “This work brings the community close, seeking to develop and innovate agriculture in the region with technology,” says Guilherme Guiné, Chief Operations Officer of Solinftec for North America.
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