Purdue Ag-celerator Fund has injected capital into farming robot developer Rogo Ag, which is aiming to make farming more efficient by reducing errors in soil sampling.

US-based agricultural soil sampling robot developer Rogo Ag yesterday obtained $200,000 in a round backed by Purdue Ag-celerator Fund, an investment vehicle aligned with the university’s agtech accelerator competition.
The deal also featured Ag Alumni Seed, a nonprofit popcorn seed breeding company affiliated to Purdue University. Ag-celerator Fund and Ag Alumni Seed each contributed $100,000 to the round.
Rogo Ag is developing an autonomous robot, dubbed SmartCore, that is able to move through farmland gathering appropriate soil samples that are then returned to the farmer for further testing.
Stationed on a skid-steer chassis, the robot uses lidar sensors to detect objects in its path and computer algorithms to recognise the boundaries of its operation. The samples are collected through a hydraulic auger loading unit configured to prevent loss of soil.
Rogo Ag believes the product will improve the accuracy of soil sampling, a key determinant in predicting how much fertiliser is needed for a successful harvest.
The margin of error in traditional sampling practices can reach as high as 20%, according to the press release, implying an average loss in profit of $30 per acre.
Rogo Ag will use the cash to refine SmartCore’s controls, bag labelling system and collision avoidance technology. The company now aims to scale its business across the US and hopes to build out its technology over the long term.
– Feature image courtesy of Rogo Ag