Topcon Agriculture teams up with Bonsai Robotics on precision farming

Topcon and Bonsai are interested in automating the most labor-intensive tasks in agriculture for permanent crops. | Source: Bonsai Robotics

Topcon Positioning Systems and Bonsai Robotics Inc. this week announced an initiative to jointly develop agricultural automation for permanent crops. The partnership will use Bonsai’s expertise in vision-based autonomous driving systems and Topcon Agriculture’s capabilities with sensors, connectivity, and smart implements.

The companies’ stated goal is to provide farmers with “unparalleled efficiency and productivity.”

“At Bonsai Robotics, we are revolutionizing orchard farming by automating some of the industry’s most challenging processes,” said Tyler Niday, CEO of Bonsai Robotics. “Joining forces with Topcon Agriculture allows us to integrate our AI-first approach to vision-based autonomy with their suite of precision sensors and smart implement controls, offering farmers seamless solutions that drive efficiency and sustainability.”

The collaborators said they will combine the strengths of Bonsai Robotics’ vision-based, autonomous navigation systems with Topcon Agriculture’s advanced autosteering, telematics, and smart implement integration. The companies said they plan to create end-to-end systems that address automating labor-intensive tasks, enabling data-driven decision-making, and providing high-precision harvesting technology in challenging environments.

Bonsai builds navigation, autonomy tech

San Jose, Calif.-based Bonsai Robotics said it aims to reimagine farming production systems with an “AI-first approach” to provide vision-based autonomous systems for harsh environments. Based on patented AI models, an orchard data set, and computer vision software, the company‘s  integrate seamlessly to make OEM equipment operate autonomously.

In addition, Bonsai said its technology can navigate in GNSS-denied environments, without a cellular or Internet connection. This makes the highly affordable technology ideal for the toughest physical conditions where dust, darkness, debris, elevation changes, and vibration may occur, the company said. 

Bonsai asserted that its flagship Visionsteer product is affordable and suitable for environments with dust, darkness, debris, elevation changes, and vibration. The system offers data insights, crop analysis, notifications, job planning, and autonomous vehicle control.

Last week, the company raised $15 million in Series A funding. Bonsai said it planned to use the financing to enhance its software capabilities, expand its platform and data set, add OEM partnerships, and accelerate commercialization efforts.

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Topcon brings precision to farms, orchards

Topcon Positioning Systems is a designer, manufacturer, and distributor of precision measurement and workflow solutions for the global construction, geospatial, and agriculture markets.

“Topcon Agriculture’s advanced autosteering systems, telematics, and implement controls are designed to empower farmers with cutting-edge technology and insights,” said Antonio Marzia, executive vice president and general manager of Topcon Agriculture. “Teaming with Bonsai Robotics extends this capability to orchard farming, enabling us to globally deliver precision automation solutions that address critical pain points in orchard farming including labor shortages, resource inefficiency, and the need for sustainability.”

The company‘s agriculture offerings include smart implements, harvesting equipment, guidance systems, livestock management systems, and a data management platform. Topcon said it has more than 90 years of experience in surveying and over 40 years in developing vital agriculture technology for crop and livestock production.

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