This document discusses partnerships that could help develop and commercialize an autonomous weeding robot called CarrotBot. Potential partners include: - UC Davis for weed recognition research expertise. - A German laser lab studying laser weed control. - Bolthouse Farms, a large organic carrot grower, interested in the technology. - Several service providers in weed and pest control that could assist with operations. - Imaging hardware, laser, and equipment manufacturers that could provide components. It also outlines plans to demonstrate CarrotBot at farming conventions to obtain feedback, and notes initial findings from developing the first prototype that will inform the next steps.

1. Key PARTNERSHIPSTeam AutonomowENGR-245 – Week 8 PresentationOrganic Carrot Field, Avenal, CA

2. The Business Plan Canvas UpdatedTechnology Design

3. Marketing

4. Demo and customer feedback

5. Farming conventions.

6. Demo, demo, and demo!!

7. Proximity is paramount

8. Mid/Large Organic Farmers

9. Agricultural corporations

10. Weeding Service Providers

11. Mid/Large Conventional Farmers

12. Research Labs

13. Equipment Manufacturer

14. Distribution Network

15. Service Providers

16. 2 or 3 Key Farms

17. Cost Reduction

18. Remove labor force pains

19. Eliminate bio-waste hazards

20. IP – Patents

21. Video Classifier Files

22. Robust Technology

23. Direct Service

24. Indirect Service

25. … then Dealers

26. Direct Service with equipment rental

27. Low density: $1,500/d

28. High density: $6,000/dValue-Driven R&D

29. Bill of Materials

30. Training & Service

31. SalesCarrotBotMachine Vision data collection platformMonochrome & Color CamerasLaser-line sweep (depth measurement)Encoders (position/velocity)Onboard data acquisition & powerCarrotBot 1.0

34. Carrotbot – key findingsLight control is criticalAdjust for lens focal lengthMore robust drive trainNext steps: Hyper-spectral imaging (IR)Develop process for creating training sets

35. Partnership evolution

36. R&D Partner: UC davisOver 10 years of weed recognition and elimination researchHyper-spectral imagingPrecision spray of hot organic oilNo plans to start own companyOpen to joint proposalDr. David Slaughter, UC DavisSource: “Autonomous robotic weed control systems”, D.C. Slaughter, et. al. Computers & Electronics in Agriculture, 2008

37. R&D Partner: LZH (GER)Laser Zentrum HannoverGerman laser research labCurrently studying using lasers for weed controlFindings:Effective and efficientMaximal dose of 5 J mm2CO2 laser better absorbed than Diode laserChristian Marx, PhD studentSource: “Laser Light Beams for Weed Control in Horticulture” C. Woltjen, et. al., LZH

38. Early Adoption partner: bolthouse2nd largest organic carrot grower in CATechnology-driven companyKey decision makers are excited by this project

39. Bridge Partners: Service Industry Service Providers:Hines Pest and Weed Control (Watsonville, CA)Jack R Weed Control Service (Rocklin, CA)Western Farm Service Inc. (West Coast)Integrated Crop Pest Management & Control (Salinas, CA)Weed/Pest Management Consultants:Organic Ag Advisors (North San Juan, CA)The Organic Consulting Firm (Temecula, CA)Crop Production Services, Inc. (California)

40. Supply Chain PartnersImaging HardwareLasersnLightImplement ChassisGonzales Machinery & ForgeNorthern Valley Fab

41. 2011 World Ag ExpoFound a few companies for potential partnership … maybe OEM arrangementSolex Corp, Gonzales Machinery, TrimbleChecking out the competition – RoboCrop. Only technology of its type, very rudimentary.

42. Q&AQ&A:

43. Income Statement (backup)Key Assumptions:Revenue:# Machines goes from

44. Billable Days per machine from

45. Average Price goes from $ per rental day (Tech I to Tech II)Costs – COGS:Equipment expenses are $xx (Tech I) and $xx(Tech II). Useful life:xyrs

46. Long-term: one trainer/operator perxmach.

47. Fixed maint. cost are xx% of equip. exp.

48. Variable maint. cost are $x/billable dayCosts – OPEX:X CS/MS engineers in R&D

49. Sales force goes up fromx to xreps

50. General Managers go up fromx to xVPs

51. Staff goes up fromx to x clerks

52. No debt in the firstx years