Born from a working farmer’s frustration with tedious outdoor labor, Burro has been building autonomous, electric work robots for agriculture and industrial operations since 2017. Its collaborative platforms handle the repetitive hauling, carrying, mowing and spraying that can slow crews down, from vineyard rows and nurseries to depot yards. Based in Philadelphia with an additional Visalia location, Burro says its robots are used by more than 100 operations worldwide.
Cloud and Field IncBuffalo-based Cloud and Field Inc. retrofits the heavy machinery farmers already own into autonomous vehicles using software, sensors, positioning systems, and artificial intelligence. Founded by data scientist Greg Everhart, the company is developing patent-pending tools aimed at helping family farms address labor shortages without replacing their existing equipment or requiring broadband. Its retrofit approach is being pilot-tested with Upstate New York farms.KENMORE, NY
SeegridFounded in Pittsburgh in 2003 by roboticist Hans Moravec, Seegrid builds autonomous mobile robots for material handling in manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics facilities. Its U.S.-engineered lift trucks and tow tractors use infrastructure-free navigation to move pallets and cart trains through busy sites where people and automation work together. Seegrid also provides Fleet Central software and deployment support, with more than 2,000 AMRs operating across over 200 customer sites and more than 20 million autonomous miles driven.PITTSBURGH, PA
Adev Automation, IncA Dayton, Ohio robotics start-up, Adev Automation is developing autonomous harvesters that find and pick ripe strawberries to help farms manage labor shortages and reduce food waste. Its S-2 Albien prototype has been tested with commercial farms and research partners including The Ohio State University and the University of Florida, while the company is also developing a hops-harvesting platform. A 2024 strawberry picker design incorporating LIDAR and pneumatic assistance is under construction and testing.
Pik Rite, IncBorn from a Pennsylvania farming and welding shop search for a better way to pick tomatoes, Pik Rite has made agricultural and commercial work equipment since 1986. Based in Lewisburg, the company employs nearly 100 people at two manufacturing and parts facilities, building machinery that ranges from vegetable harvesters to vacuum tanks and dump bodies. Pik Rite also fabricates custom parts in-house and sells its equipment throughout the United States and abroad.LEWISBURG, PA