US Agri Startup Aigen Brings Solar Powered Robotics To Farm Cleanup

Aigen, a startup in the field of agricultural technology, based in Seattle, US has recently introduced a groundbreaking robotics platform that operates autonomously and can be scaled up easily. The USP of the platform is that it exploits solar and wind energy as its sole power sources. The firm claims that the Aigen Element Service will debut on over 20,000 acres of U.S. farmland in 2024.

Utilizing Artificial Intelligence

By harnessing proprietary quantized AI technology, the Aigen Element service offers farmers a comprehensive farming solution that not only reduces dependence on fossil fuels but also provides them with invaluable real-time field insights, significant time savings, and cost reductions.

Aigen’s vehicles continuously transmit field and crop data to an in-house developed mobile app, offering farmers real-time insights

Utility

Aigen claims that its Element vehicles can autonomously navigate, de-weed, and analyze row crops, offering farmers a scalable, chemical-free way to grow healthier crops. With the help of satellite technology and by applying mesh network connectivity to the farm, it offers full field connectivity.

The Aigen Element drives itself continuously at around two miles per hour over farmland, using an advanced computer vision system to identify crops and unwanted botanical invaders. With two-axis robotic arms positioned close to the ground, the Element can flick weeds out of the way where they’ll dry out before they can grow seeds and spread.

The robot fleet also uses irrigation-related analytics, which would provide information about the water supply for plants. This data would help them determine if the plants are receiving adequate water and identify areas in the field that might require additional irrigation.

Rugged and Agile Hardware

Every aspect of the Aigen Element robot is built for maximum efficiency on the farm. The robots used in farming are part of a group and come in different sizes to match the needs of each farm. The lightweight frame and custom made 205 Watt solar panel/s, paired with regenerative motors and rugged suspension, allow the robots to effectively navigate and weed row crops for up to 14 hours a day in nearly any weather condition. Thanks to their LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries, these wireless robots can even keep working in the dark for about four hours, and even in light to moderate rain for up to six hours.

Founders

From Left, Rich Wurden, Kenny Lee

The company behind the robots, Aigen, was founded by Rich Wurden, an ex-Tesla engineer, along with former Proofpoint executive Kenny Lee in 2020.

Aigen’s CTO, Wurden, comes from a farming family in Minnesota that grew sugarbeets. He is a type 1 diabetic who uses an insulin pump and is passionate about environmental health. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Wurden worked at Tesla as a mechanical engineer and battery technology expert.Later, he joined a Seattle-based electric boating startup called Pure Watercraft, which ignited his interest in startups.

Aigen’s CEO, Lee, successfully battled non-Hodgkins lymphoma in his youth. He transitioned from a career in cybersecurity, where his focus was on internet safety, to a passion for personal and planetary health. Lee co-founded Weblife.io, which was acquired by Proofpoint for approximately $60 million in 2017.

Investors

Aigen has secured approximately $7 million in early-stage funding, along with grant money from the state of Idaho, to advance their system’s development. The investors involved comprise a blend of technology and climate-oriented seed and venture funds, including NEA, Global Founders, Regen Ventures, Bessemer, Climate Tech VC, Cleveland Ave., and a climate fund founded by former Meta executive Mike Schroepfer.

Enthusiasm Among American Farmers

Pre-orders for the Element Service in 2024 and 2025 were completely sold out within a single day earlier this year. This response underscores the growing demand for more efficient approaches in the agricultural industry. Currently, American farmers rely on approximately 900 million pounds of herbicides each year, with projected costs exceeding $100 per acre in the coming years. Additionally, in 2019 alone, farm equipment contributed to emissions of approximately 100,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents, further emphasizing the need for sustainable and eco-friendly solutions.