Robotics firm, Saga, secures $11.2 million funding to increase the number of UV-C light-equipped bots combating powdery mildew
Saga Robotics and TRIC Robotics: Revolutionizing Crop Protection in Agriculture
Saga Robotics and TRIC Robotics, two pioneering companies in the field of agrobotics, are making significant strides in revolutionizing crop protection. Both companies utilize UV-C light technology for crop protection, but they focus on different agricultural markets and deploy different robot designs adapted to those markets.
TRIC Robotics, specializes in larger autonomous robots designed to span multiple rows in open strawberry fields, particularly in California strawberry farms like Oxnard and Watsonville. Their robots combine UV-C light for controlling mites, mildew, and mold with integrated bug vacuums. TRIC offers a service model with no upfront cost to farmers, lowering adoption barriers and expanding their fleet aggressively from 9 units to 40-50 units[1].
Saga Robotics, by contrast, focuses on smaller, more precise robots named Thorvald, which are optimized for tabletop strawberry production in polytunnels and California vineyards. Their machines are designed for the confined spaces and precision needs of these settings. Saga also operates on a Robots as a Service (RaaS) model but some California wine growers have purchased their robots outright, facilitated by the state's CORE incentive program. Saga’s robots include cameras for disease detection and yield prediction, which add value beyond UV-C treatment[2].
In summary:
| Aspect | TRIC Robotics | Saga Robotics | |----------------------------|------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------| | Primary focus | Open-field strawberries in California | Tabletop strawberries in polytunnels and California vineyards | | Robot size/design | Larger machines spanning multiple rows | Smaller robots for precision in tight spaces | | Technology | UV-C light + bug vacuums | UV-C light + cameras for data collection and disease prediction | | Business model | No upfront cost, service-based fleet | RaaS model, with some outright sales supported by state incentives | | Target pests/diseases | Mites, mildew, mold on strawberries | Powdery mildew primarily, with yield and disease data analytics |
Saga Robotics views TRIC as a complementary player rather than a direct competitor due to different market needs and robot designs, reflecting that "no one size fits all" in UV-C crop protection[2].
TRIC is scaling up for broad open-field strawberry applications with combined pest control methods, while Saga is innovating for high-value, precision environments like vineyard rows and tabletop strawberries, integrating UV-C treatment with precision sensing and data tools[1][2].
The latest machines are also kitted out with cameras enabling Thorvald to collect data enabling growers to predict yields and detect disease. The ag robotics industry is expected to grow rapidly, particularly in California. Saga Robotics, a specialist in ag robotics, aims to triple its footprint in US vineyards and increase its penetration of the UK tabletop strawberry market to 30% next year.
Competing with human dexterity is a challenge in the development of ag robotics. Existing fungicides to tackle powdery mildew are becoming less effective, but growers typically see a return on their investment through higher yields and reduced labor costs with UV-C treatment. Yield prediction is based on data collection such as the number of clusters, size of clusters, size of berries, and early count of flowers.
Saga Robotics has raised $11.2 million in new funds to expand its fleet of autonomous 'bots armed with UV-C light to tackle powdery mildew. The company has raised just under $33 million prior to the latest round. Bonsai Robotics has acquired farm-ng to herald a new era of 'AI-first machines that will transform crop management'. 4AG Robotics has raised $29m Series B to expand autonomous mushroom harvesting tech.
Sources: [1] AgFunder News. (2021, October 19). TRIC Robotics Scales Up in California Strawberry Fields. Retrieved from https://agfundernews.com/tric-robotics-scales-up-in-california-strawberry-fields/ [2] AgFunder News. (2021, October 19). Saga Robotics Raises $11.2 Million for Autonomous Strawberry Harvester. Retrieved from https://agfundernews.com/saga-robotics-raises-11-2-million-for-autonomous-strawberry-harvester/
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