French company Aisprid has developed a leaf-pruning robot, and it's now looking at ways to team up with tomato growers outside of France. Early conversations with growers and partners suggest that the interest is there, producers from several countries seem eager to explore what this autonomous leaf-pruning robot can do.
Earlier this year, Aisprid showcased its technology to an international audience, including at trade fairs such as GreenTech in Amsterdam. The robot is already widely used in France, but these events made it clear that the system also caught the attention of growers and technology partners from around the world.
© Airsprid
Ready for the next step
At the heart of Aisprid's robot is artificial intelligence, making it one of the first practical examples of what's called "Physical AI." In other words, this isn't just AI running on a computer, it's built directly into the machine, allowing it to act in the real world. The robot tackles one of the most labor-intensive jobs in greenhouse tomato production: removing leaves. Thanks to ongoing improvements, the system can now operate completely on its own, day or night, and even move between rows without any human help.
CEO Nicolas Salmon explains that expanding into international markets is a natural next step: "The global horticultural sector is changing rapidly, and more and more growers are searching for solutions to deal with labor shortages and to work more efficiently. Our technology can play an important role in that."
With that in mind, Aisprid is planning to test and scale up its robot in different countries, working closely with forward-thinking growers and technology partners. After raising €10 million in funding, Aisprid feels well-positioned to make these ambitions a reality, with opportunities for collaboration in international markets, including the Netherlands.
For more information:
Airsprid
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www.aisprid.com
