Problem Description
Despite our cultural reverence for forests, almost half of the Earth’s natural forests have been removed, resulting in the loss of 0.9-2.3 Gt of carbon annually. This represents about 15% of human carbon emissions. Despite advancements for deforesting land for lumber, the effort of reforestation hasn’t had any meaningful innovation in millennia. Currently, the majority of tree planting is done manually with primitive tools, making reforestation prohibitively expensive for many landowners. In the United States, where 89% of land available for reforestation is privately owned, and in Pennsylvania, where this figure rises to 96%, Arbor Robotics sees an opportunity to make a significant impact. Our target users, typically aged 55 and above, are interested in reforesting between 1-10 acres of land at a time. These projects are too physically demanding to undertake alone but lack the scale needed to make hiring contractors cost-effective.
Arbor Robotics is developing the Digital Steward, a cutting-edge robot aimed at revolutionizing reforestation efforts. The Digital Steward seeks to address this crisis by providing a scalable solution for tree planting. The Digital Steward aims to bridge this gap, providing a cost-effective and efficient solution to reforestation that can mitigate climate change by absorbing approximately 226 Gt of atmospheric carbon and providing essential habitats for endangered species.
Use Case
Lucas, a Pennsylvania landowner, seeks to optimize his pastureland’s potential while minimizing costs. Turning to innovative solutions, he employs Stu, our digital steward, to streamline the planting process. Stu, equipped as a digital rover, autonomously undertakes planting operations with precision and efficiency.
Before deploying Stu, Lucas manually prepares the soil, ensuring optimal conditions for planting. Once in action, Stu navigates the terrain using advanced algorithms and sensors to avoid obstacles. Arriving at designated spots, Stu meticulously digs holes, places seedlings securely, and tamps down soil for successful integration, all while safeguarding existing plantings.
Lucas’s role involves providing power and seedlings, while Stu operates seamlessly, providing Lucas with detailed updates on planting progress and CO2 sequestration. This integration of technology not only streamlines operations but also enhances sustainability, showcasing the benefits of digital solutions in traditional agricultural practices.
