Robots for small garden areas – FarmBot sows, irrigates, pulls weeds...

Growing vegetables and spices in our own gardens would be wonderful if we had more time for it. A Californian company is looking to help by offering computer-controlled robotic devices FarmBot, meant for hard work in gardens.

In a small garden the size of a mattress, FarmBot sows seeds of various types of vegetables. The machine controls soil moisture, irrigates plants and pulls weeds. FarmBot is an independent system for agricultural works on small garden areas, says innovator Rory Aronson.

– Our ideal customer is someone who loves technology and wishes to grown their own vegetables, but doesn’t have time for it – Aronson explains.

FarmBot is sold online and it was ordered by around 300 customers from all over the world in February alone. Aronson says that around 8 hours are needed to install the machinery. – If you know how to use a screwdriver and follow the instructions, you should have no problem assembling it yourself.

Components are made of aluminum, stainless steel and 3D-printed plastic, which makes them resistant to humidity. One of FarmBot’s great advantages is that it can be experimented on and expanded. Owners can use computers to make their own gardening programs.

Aronson says that he has tested FarmBot in his own garden.

So far, FarmBot is sold in only one size, and it costs USD 3,100. The company is planning to produce larger machines, which might find use in smaller greenhouses.

FarmBot

growing vegetables

growing spices

garden robot

independent agricultural work system

Rory Aronson