Bluewhite

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Bluewhite drives the growth of resilient farms, through pioneering technology, and a friendly user experience. Our vision is to bring sustainable innovation to growers worldwide. The Bluewhite mission is to build resilient farms by maximising the grower’s productivity and reducing their operational cost. We equip existing fleets with autonomous technology, an easy-to-use platform, and end-to-end service; supporting their journey to a more profitable and sustainable farm.

What is the most striking according to the supplier?
Bluewhite combines hardware and software into a single solution, allowing for completely remote fleet and data management. The company’s Pathfinder product is retrofitted onto any tractor and leverages computer vision, AI, and smart implements integration to navigate and execute multiple tasks autonomously, from crop seeding and spraying to mowing and harvesting, even in challenging conditions. Compass, the software-as-a-service (SaaS) component of Bluewhite’s solution, collects data from the field, analyzes it using advanced AI algorithms, and provides real-time dashboards, reports and insights, ensuring maximum efficiency across farm operations on any device.

How does the robot tractor with your system navigate and plan its work and paths?
Our platform calculates the whole mission plan, taking into consideration the entire fleet and mission characteristics. The tractor then executes the plan while updating in real-time. We control all the tractor’s parameters – vehicle speed, engine rpm, PTO speed, etc. It’s a geo-fenced operation.

How are implements operated and controlled by your system?
The tractor system easily interfaces with sprayers, mowers, harvesters, and discing implements, and can integrate with smart implements & controllers. The Bluewhite system can also provide smart capabilities to existing implement with features like BlueSpray, using Bluewhite’s autonomous tractor sensing technology, BlueSpray adjusts spray volume and pressure in real-time based on a tree or vine density. BlueSpray provides growers with valuable spray data for business insights, optimisation, and regulatory requirements.

What are the safety features?
The system employs a variety of safety features including a LiDAR obstacle avoidance and anti-collision system, computer vision obstacle detection, a pressure-sensitive front bumper failsafe, geo fence and speed control shutdown, a remote control kill switch, and 4 cut off switches – both inside the cab and around the exterior of the chassis.

What kind of work can your system do autonomously
Pesticide spraying, herbicide applications, discing, mowing plans for harvesting.

Can you switch off autonomous mode and continue as a manned tractor for difficult work/circumstances?
Yes, with a simple switch.

How many systems are currently in the field and where?
The Bluewhite solution has already helped execute more than 50,000 hours of autonomous farming activity across 150,000 acres of crops in California and Washington, USA, with more than 100 systems in daily operation.

What is the cost price per ha compared with a manned tractor?
Bluewhite is providing a Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) model consisting of installation ($35-50K per tractor) and an annual fee ($25-30K per unit), which includes warranty, data storage, service, etc.

See table below for more specifications