Key Takeaways:
- Mojow, co-founded by Owen Kinch and Mojtaba (Moji) Hedayatpour, developed an autonomous tractor kit to progress agricultural machinery operations.
- The kit addresses the agriculture sector’s need for reduced labor dependency through advanced autonomous technology.
- EYEBOXâ„¢, Mojow’s proprietary system, uses stereo cameras and deep learning to navigate tractors autonomously, overcoming obstacles and enhancing field efficiency.
- CAAIN funds the project to create a commercially viable product that will lower production costs and increase farm profitability.
- Mojow’s Edmonton-based team leverages the region’s expertise in computer vision, AI, and machine learning, accelerated by CAAIN’s support and networking.
Mojow Innovates Agriculture with Autonomous Tractor Kit
Revolutionizing Farming with Advanced Autonomy
In a significant leap forward for agricultural technology, Mojow’s Autonomous Tractor Kit, funded by the Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN), is set to redefine the landscape of farm implementation operations. Co-founders Owen Kinch, a visionary grain farmer with a rich background in R&D and autonomous vehicle development, and Mojtaba (Moji) Hedayatpour, a skilled systems architect and software developer, have pooled their expertise to tackle one of the sector’s most pressing issues, labor scarcity.
The Path to Autonomy in Agriculture
Autonomous technology in agriculture has long been hampered by the limitations of GPS-driven systems, which struggle with unplanned obstacles and require constant human oversight. Mojow’s innovative approach, centered around the EYEBOXâ„¢ system, aims to overcome these challenges by enabling tractors to operate independently, from navigating between fields to entering and exiting them without human intervention.
EYEBOXâ„¢: The Heart of Mojow’s Innovation
At the core of Mojow’s technology is EYEBOXâ„¢, a compact, rugged device equipped with stereo cameras, GPS, and a powerful processing unit. This system captures real-time images to create a digital twin of the farm, allowing for precise navigation and operation of agricultural machinery without manual control. The continuous image data update ensures accurate positioning and responsive maneuvering in the field.
Addressing Key Challenges in Agricultural Machinery
Mojow’s solution focuses on three critical areas for autonomous operation: driving autonomously across different terrains, navigating to and from fields, and seamless transition between road and field operations. By solving these issues, EYEBOXâ„¢ promises to make agricultural vehicles truly autonomous, freeing farmers from the need to operate tractors manually and thereby enhancing productivity and sustainability.
CAAIN’s Role in Accelerating Development
The support from CAAIN has been instrumental in fast-tracking Mojow’s project towards commercial viability. By facilitating access to Edmonton’s rich talent pool in AI, computer vision, and machine learning and through the networking opportunities provided by program manager Garson Law, CAAIN has significantly contributed to Mojow’s progress and success.
Towards a More Efficient and Sustainable Agriculture
Mojow’s Autonomous Tractor Kit represents a pivotal advancement in agricultural technology, aiming to reduce dependency on manual labor, decrease production costs, and increase overall farm efficiency and profitability. With its innovative approach and the strategic support of CAAIN, Mojow is well on its way to transforming the agricultural sector for the better.