Key facts
- Upside Robotics is building 80 fertilizer microdosing robots for expanded trials.
- The company raised $7.3 million to expand its system.
- The robots microdose liquid nutrients between corn rows and recharge autonomously.
- The technology aims to optimize 4R nutrient management (right source, rate, time, place).
- Robots are equipped with crop-sensing equipment and collect significant data.
Upside Robotics is significantly expanding its agricultural trials by constructing 80 of its specialized fertilizer microdosing robots for the upcoming growing season across Ontario. The Waterloo-based company has also secured $7.3 million in recent funding to further develop and deploy its innovative system. This technology aims to revolutionize crop fertilization by using small, autonomous robots that navigate between corn rows, applying liquid nutrients precisely where and when needed. These robots dock and recharge themselves in the field. The system is designed to optimize the 4R nutrient management principles: right source, right rate, right time, and right place. Farmers like Don Bender, who has been collaborating with Upside Robotics, see the potential to reduce excess fertilizer application and boost yields, potentially increasing yields from 250 to 350 bushels per acre. Beyond nitrogen savings, the company is exploring applications for other fertilizers and micronutrients, including foliar feeding, to address various yield-limiting factors. The robots are equipped with crop-sensing technology and collect substantial amounts of data, with one robot gathering 10 terabytes in a year, which is used to refine nutrient application algorithms. The system also offers logistical benefits by reducing the need for separate passes for fertilization during other field operations.