How Can Robots Revolutionize Farming with See-and-Spray Technology?

In this episode you’ll learn about robotics in agriculture. We talk to Jim Ostrowski, CTO of Blue River Technology, about their See–and–Spray technology, Blue River’s partnership with John Deere, deep learning, and the future of robotics in agriculture. Don’t miss this episode if you want to see a great example of a high impact problem that robots are well suited for.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, please consider donating to help us keep it going:
https://donorbox.org/sense–think–act–podcast

EPISODE LINKS:
– Blue River Technology’s Website: https://bluerivertechnology.com/}
– Blue River Technology’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bluerivertech/}
– Jim Ostrowski’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim–ostrowski–9a8112/}

PODCAST INFO:
– Podcast website: https://sensethinkact.com}
– Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sense–think–act/id1582090036}
– Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/52wK4oMDvgijRk6E82tC5d}
– RSS: https://sensethinkact.com/itunes.xml}
– Full episodes: https://www.youtube.com/c/SenseThinkActPodcast}
– Clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChfnCpNwZzYtZ32J–pZvNDg}

OUTLINE:
– (0:00:00) Start
– (0:03:02) How does their system work?
– (0:10:09) Image processing to spray weeds
– (0:17:27) Discussion on labor
– (0:21:48) Herbicide resistance
– (0:26:31) Genetically modified crops
– (0:27:50) Monocrop cultures
– (0:32:43) Regenerative agriculture
– (0:35:17) Partnering with John Deere
– (0:36:02) Jim’s background in Blue River
– (0:37:37) Deep learning technology
– (0:38:31) Risks of deep learning
– (0:41:29) Labeling for deep learning
– (0:41:54) Autonomous tillage
– (0:43:50) Challenges in tillage
– (0:45:10) Why tillage is a nice problem
– (0:46:55) Mentions monitoring the job
– (0:47:40) Using cameras to determine normal function
– (0:48:58) How to use deep learning in tilling
– (0:50:42) Getting into other areas like construction at John Deere
– (0:51:41) Fully automated farms?
– (0:55:36) Harvesting will be the last task to be automated
– (0:57:45) What’s the progression of automating tasks on the farm?
– (0:59:32) Hydroponic farming?
– (1:05:07) Future at Blue River
– (1:09:01) Integrating with John Deere
– (1:17:57) Allocating space in new designs
– (1:22:38) Advice for a new graduate
– (1:27:46) Wrapping up

SOCIAL:
– Twitter: https://twitter.com/sense_think_act}
– Discourse: https://discourse.ros.org/c/sensethinkact/71}