Saga Robotics and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, introduced Thorvald, a modular ag robot. The vehicle weighs about 440 pounds and has 8 motors — 4 for steering and 4 for propulsion. It is adaptable for tillage work and has been primarily tested for use in strawberry tunnels using UV lights to kill mildew on plants. “One of the unique features is that it can be modified for a lot of different working environments, kind of like Legos, and can be narrowed to fit into smaller spaces or expanded for more substantial field tasks,” says Lars Grimstad, PhD student at MBU.

With a week to digest the global buffet of equipment, technology and agricultural trends on display at the SIMA Agribusiness Show in Paris, France, I particularly enjoyed visiting with some of the young innovators showcasing progressive products.