Cornell Alums' Startup Budbreak Unveils AI Agri-Robot Emma

broodsugar · x · 2026-08-13

Cornell University alumni Jonathan Moon and Ertai Liu have founded Budbreak, an agritech startup that developed an agricultural robot named Emma.

How it works: Operating much like a Roomba, Emma autonomously navigates crop rows for hours. Using cameras and AI, it captures thousands of photos to create a digital replica of the plants.
Data collection: The robot records detailed metrics such as plant height and fruit size, while actively scanning for signs of disease, pests, and animal damage.
Decision support: Budbreak is also building AI tools that integrate Emma's field data with agricultural research from institutions like Cornell. This helps growers quickly identify problems and determine the best course of action.

Initially launched for vineyards, the company's technology now supports growers of various crops, including berries, citrus, and almonds.

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