Using artificial intelligence to create smart farms

Is the future of farming in the software? Tying together artificial intelligence (AI) software and hardware sensors, Dallas-based Flux Farm (www.fluxiot.com), led by Texas technology veteran Blake Burris, is hoping to create a new vision of farming, which relies more on software algorithms and less on the vagaries of weather and soil. Texas TechPulse spoke with Blake about his new startup—which got its start in Israel—and what it's up to here in Texas.

What exactly is Flux all about?
Blake Burris: "Flux Farms is about a two year old company, which was started in Israel. We're an artificial intelligence, machine learning company, coupling AI and machine learning with sensor technology. We've built a framework technology, which is generic, in a sense, and can be applied to multiple sectors or realms. The first sector we're addressing, is the agricultural sector, and hydroponics. We've built a system that includes both hardware, a cloud platform, and a robust, artificial intelligence back end, which uses machine learning to help both the average Joe grow crops with the yield an expert might get. That might be you or I growing tomatoes on the back patio, or someone growing at scale. For example, we recently visited a possible customer in Lucas, Texas, North of Dallas, who has 8,000 square feet, with the vision to supply Texas restaurants with lettuce, herbs, and other vegetables. We can scale this from your backyard to urban farms, and even to larger, vertical farms in cities around the world."

Flux is looking for beta testers and distributors. Contact Karin Kloosterman at [email protected] for more details.

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