ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER 11 TECHNOLOGY continued on page 12 C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Altoya_Pub_Print.pdf 1 2026-07-22 13:31:10 While separate from the Upside Robotics project, yield and profitability results from reduced-nitrogen test plots could later inform the use of autonomous application equipment. TEETHING PROBLEMS 2024 was the inaugural year for Upside Robotics field trials, says Franklin, with seven Ontario farmers working with the company. That number grew to 11 farmers in 2025, and 31, including Grubb, in 2026. The effectiveness of the company’s autonomous application platforms has been mixed to date. Early problems with the material quality of fertilizer holding tanks caused corrosion issues in critical electronic components, for example, leading to significant downtime in 2024. Large antennas required to maintain connectivity in tall standing corn have also proven challenging, as they were prone to snapping off after contact with corn stalks. Some connectivity challenges were recurring. In Grubb’s field this year, specifically, improved programming was needed to help the implement traverse an oddly sloped field. The amount of unexpected downtime in previous years and in other fields meant some acres did not receive the full amount ABOUT UPSIDE ROBOTICS By Owen Roberts Upside Robotics designs autonomous solar-powered field robots, about the size of a large cooler, that deliver nutrients precisely, continuously, and efficiently. The robots operate autonomously between the rows - no operator is required, and no interference occurs with normal farm operations. The robots apply fertilizer on an as-needed basis, with sensors on the robots assessing individual plants’ real-time requirements. Every field collects data that builds a precise picture of what each acre actually needs, rather than what the average field might need. Instead of a single blanket nitrogen application at the start of the season, Upside's robots make up to 20 targeted applications from crop emergence through to near-harvest. “Our systems operate directly in the field and adapt in real time to soil, crop, and weather conditions,” says company co-founder Sam Dugan. “We focus on practical deployment by building technology that integrates into existing farm workflows and delivers measurable results without adding complexity. Every robot is designed to run frequently, learn continuously and scale across real agricultural operations.” The People’s Choice In April, Upside Robotics won one of two People’s Choice awards at the Grand River Agricultural Society’s fifth SPARK symposium, held in Elora. This event, which drew 130 attendees, strives to connect agricultural and environmental technology companies with potential investors, and provide a platform showcasing innovative agricultural businesses, as well as business opportunities in agriculture. In the People’s Choice category, Upside Robotics was voted “The company that attendees would invest in.” New Generation This year marked the launch of Upside Robotics’ secondgeneration base station and fifth-generation robot, improved through experience. Dugan says the changes entailed double the engineering effort of all previous generations combined, with a focus on serviceability, reliability and durability. This year's systems can apply up to four different nutrient blends simultaneously, adding micro and macro nutrients alongside nitrogen, based on real-time crop deficiencies.
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