Oregon BEST, Oregon Tech Team Up to Fund Rogue Rovers’ UGV



By Priya Potapragada



Oregon BEST is partnering with Oregon Tech to fund electric farm vehicle startup, Rogue Rovers LLC, to develop a semiautonomous ground vehicle that can be used for farming applications, pest management, decrease fertilizer waste, and operations in orchards and vineyards.



The vehicle comes with a driver option and is able to apply pesticides and herbicides and create a virtual orchard database that will include plant history, soil type, areas of plant stress, temperature and humidity readings.



"We're going to see more and more precision in the specialty ag space. I don't know of anyone else developing ground-based autonomous vehicles for this sector, but there's no doubt that this is up and coming," says Melissa Brandao, CEO and founder of Ashland, Ore.-based Rogue Rovers. 



The funding sanctions a student-faculty team at Oregon to study mechanical engineering, robotics and software development. The team is designing a vehicle that will also integrate lidar, cameras, GPS navigation, and enhance Rogue Rover's Farm Dogg intelligence and navigation system.



"We're pleased to be investing in another Oregon ag-based startup that has the potential to help farmers tap the benefits of emerging technologies to reduce inputs and boost yields," says Ken Vaughn, director of Commercialization Programs at Oregon BEST. "And it's wonderful to have current students gaining real-world experience from projects like this one."



The vehicle will also have a lower center of gravity to allow safer entry and exit by drivers.