Wang Long Chai
November 26, 2024 17:44
Zordi improves strawberry farming by integrating AI and robotics with the goal of sustainability and efficiency. The startup collaborates with NVIDIA for advanced automation.
Zordi, a startup founded by CEO Gilwoo, is growing strawberries indoors using artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics in an innovative step toward sustainable agriculture. According to NVIDIA, this initiative is not only a testament to the integration of technology in agriculture, but also a move towards healthier and more sustainable agricultural products.
AI and robotics in agriculture
Founded in 2020 by Lee and Casey Call, Zordi aims to transform strawberry farming through cutting-edge technology. The company uses two types of robots: scout robots that monitor plant health and harvest robots that delicately pick strawberries. The robot is part of Zordi’s hydroponic operations in southern New Jersey and western New York.
Zordi leverages NVIDIA’s GPUs to develop models for crop health, fruit picking, and quality assessment. These efforts are aimed at reducing our carbon footprint by supporting local markets with fresher, better-tasting produce.
Technological advancement and collaboration
Zordi has partnered with greenhouse farms in New Jersey and California to meet growing demand. The startup uses NVIDIA’s Jetson AGX Orin module to support data collection and model testing critical to managing plant health, pest control, and environmental conditions.
Lee highlights the benefits of Jetson’s energy efficiency and compatibility with lower-cost cameras. This technology allows Zordi to address the global labor shortage in agriculture by automating tasks traditionally performed by human labor.
Innovative simulation and automation
To further improve operations, Zordi is exploring using NVIDIA’s Omniverse and Isaac Sim for simulation and digital twins. These technologies allow Zordi to optimize agricultural processes and manage farms remotely, providing a real-time view of plant health and operations through a spatial map dashboard.
With plans to expand to other crops such as cucumbers and tomatoes, Zordi is developing simulations for delicate handling, which is important for extending shelf life. The company’s vision is to create a fully autonomous farming system where AI-based decisions and robotic automation streamline operations.
Overall, Zordi’s approach not only addresses labor shortages, but also sets a precedent for sustainable and efficient agricultural practices, promising a future where AI and robotics play a pivotal role in agriculture.
Image source: Shutterstock