Jane Edwards
SRI International has spun off and unveiled an agriculture firm that aims to automate fruit harvesting operations through robotics.
Abundant Robotics will leverage SRI’s agricultural robotics research efforts in order to commercialize systems intended for orchard agriculture automation, SRI International said Wednesday.
“The first automated apple harvesting system that doesn’t bruise or damage the produce will be a huge breakthrough in an industry that has been dependent on the challenges of seasonal labor,†said Dan Steere, CEO of Abundant Robotics.
Steere, formerly entrepreneur in residence at SRI International’s SRI Ventures, co-founded Abundant Robotics with Curt Salisbury, former robotics group head at SRI; and Michael Eriksen, a software architect.
California-based Abundant Robotics used a technology platform from SRI to develop a prototype designed to facilitate apple harvesting operations.
The company has completed its first investment round and has received research funds from SRI and the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission.
