Ag Tech Company Raven Industries Acquires Majority Stake In DOT Technology For Autonomous Farm Implements

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DOT Technology and Raven Industries recently entered an agreement in which Raven will acquire a majority stake in DOT Technology. The latter launched its DOT Power Platform for farm implements in 2017. (Photo courtesy of DOT Technology.)

DOT Technology has worked with Raven Industries since May 2018 on the diesel-powered, U-shaped DOT Power Platform it launched in 2017 with the “intent to change farming.” The platform both loads agriculture implements—drills, sprayers, coulters, grain carts, and a dry spreader that New Leader is designing—and executes autonomous or remote-controlled tasks with those implements. In late October, the companies entered into an agreement in which Raven, a leader in the autonomous farming tech sector, will acquire a majority stake in DOT Technology, including to support the “continued commercialization and evolution” of the platform and DOT-ready implements.

“A Path To Autonomy”

Norbert Beaujot, DOT Technology founder and owner, notes Raven’s “critical” contribution—including providing steering, guidance, and propulsion technology—in getting DOT to its current position. “Our combined technologies will undoubtedly help accelerate speed to market and adoption of machine automation,” he says.

DOT Technology CEO Robert Saik, meanwhile, says the Saskatchewan, Canada-based DOT has garnered a “staggering” amount of attention in Canada and worldwide since launching. “Raven’s involvement means our ability to provide a path to autonomy for farmers and implement manufacturers is now much stronger,” he says.

Dan Rykhus, Raven president and CEO, says that with Raven’s investment, “we have the ability to lead in the next revolution of production agriculture.” Raven notably recently launched a Raven Autonomy initiative in which it “plans to deliver autonomous solutions for agriculture that will enable both its OEM partners and ag retailers to be successful.” Raven Autonomy technology will “enable large-scale ag retailers to augment their operations, allocate resources smartly, and reduce labor dependency,” Raven says. Raven also recently acquired autonomous farming solutions provider Smart AG.

The Platform

In addition to citing cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, DOT Technology says its platform can potentially help save roughly 20% in fuel, labor, and equipment capital costs. Physically, the platform weighs 12,500 pounds (5,670 kilograms) dry and measures 12.4 x 20 x 12 feet (3.76 x 6.1 x 3.66 meters; width by length by height). The platform implements a Cummins turbocharged diesel engine producing 173 horsepower at 2,200 rpm, and incorporates implement controls following the ISOBUS 11783 protocol.

Source: DOT Technology