Ecoation Innovative Solutions Inc., a leading provider of data-driven Grower Assist Technology, and Kinova®, a Canadian-based global leader in professional robotics, are pleased to announce their collaboration. The companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), establishing the foundation for collaboration and joint development initiatives moving forward.
North Vancouver, BC (Monday, November 23, 2020) - By adding robotic grasping capabilities to ecoation’s powerful grower assist platform, this ‘Canadian Duo’ aims to enable real-time identification and treatment of pest and disease risks in greenhouses globally. With an initial focus on closed-loop and automated Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies, specifically surgical treatment application to targeted areas of the canopy and autonomous biological control distribution, this partnership will bring the best of each company’s capabilities to the market as a commercial crop monitoring and management package. Entering the market within the second half of 2021, this partnership will complete the “find & fix” strategy that ecoation introduced several years ago. In the meantime, the partnership will explore all of the exciting possibilities that are unlocked when you pair a set of robotic arms with ecoation’s OKO platform, the grower’s eyes on the ground.
“Kinova is a leader in robotic arm development with impressive and robust products that have been deployed commercially for many years in the global market,” commented Ecoation Founder and CEO, Dr. Saber Miresmailli. “What excites me the most is the fact that through this partnership, two leading Canadian companies are joining forces to tackle important and timely issues that are impacting humanity globally: food security and farm labour shortage. Combining the ecoation AI/IA Human+Machine platform with Kinova’s robotic arm will not only allow the Canadian duo to detect, diagnose and report problems but also help them to treat the issue using the proper solution with surgical precision.”
“Agriculture, whether in greenhouses or in the fields, is considered among many as one of the largest growth sectors in robotics, along with the medical and healthcare sectors. We are proud to collaborate with ecoation, another Canadian industry-leading company, in this adventure to take on one of our generation’s biggest challenges; increase food production amidst labour shortage and climate change. We are confident that ecoation’s AI/IA Human+Machine platform, combined with Kinova’s Gen3 modular and ultra-lightweight robotic arm, will prove as a powerful tool for food growers around the world,” says François Boucher, VP Sales and Marketing at Kinova.
About ecoation:
ecoation is an award-winning grower-centric platform that merges deep biology, artificial intelligence, intelligence augmentation, and robotics to create products that change the way we produce and protect our food. Commercially available since September 2019, ecoation products can be found in greenhouses across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and many European countries. With an experienced team of 50+ growers, scientists, engineers, and business professionals from all over the globe, ecoation is passionate about enabling a cleaner future, supporting growers in creating nutrition-packed crops, and aiding agricultural business owners in making the best possible decisions to maximize their yield. At ecoation, we are on a mission to empower growers because we believe in doing so, we win together. For more information, please visit www.ecoation.com.
About Kinova:
Kinova is a global leader in professional robotics. Founded in 2006 in Boisbriand, Quebec, Canada, the company's mission was initially to empower individuals with upper-body limitations through the use of assistive robotics. Almost 15 years later, the company has evolved its product line to service new markets — helping researchers, medical professionals, governments, businesses, and educational institutions achieve their innovation goals through strategic partnerships and collaborative efforts. Today, with robotic technologies built up over more than a decade of inspired ingenuity, Kinova’s dedication is to provide solutions to professionals in industries such as agrifood, healthcare, security, nuclear, hazmat, and advanced manufacturing to go well beyond their ambitions. For more information, please visit www.kinovarobotics.com.