GreenPeak-IT, a sister company of Dutch Bosman Van Zaal's, has acquired sensor technology company Polariks' assets on October 25. Polariks is a technology company that focused on visual recognition systems using hyperspectral images. Earlier this year, GreenPeak-IT introduced a pruning robot, and the goal is to equip it with hyperspectral cameras.
On September 7, Polariks filed for bankruptcy, after which the company trustee called on interested parties to come forward. To the curator's delight, that is exactly what happened, and they are glad that the product was not lost.
The technology
Hyperspectral image recognition in plants is a powerful, non-disruptive image recognition technology that aims to provide insight into how biotic stressors affect crops and to establish plant parameters over time and areas. Polariks developed mobile equipment and analytical image recognition software for hyperspectral applications.
Subsequent steps
"We intend to continue and expand Polariks' commercial activities, and to further develop the system and all its applications and know-how," states Arnoud Bolten, GreenPeak-IT's director. So far, these mobile hyperspectral cameras have been used for photosynthesis analysis, better harvest planning, more efficient fertigation, and the (early) identification of plant defects like deficiencies, diseases, and plant stress.
Earlier this year, GreenPeak-IT and VDL ETG had already announced a collaboration regarding the VDL CropTeq pruning robot's market introduction. One of the goals is to equip the robots with these mobile hyperspectral cameras. The CropTeq robot moves through greenhouses, which enables the cameras to determine the entire crop's condition. The recognition software will produce automated crop analysis.
In addition, the online Polariks platform will be integrated with the GreenPeak-IT platform, and integrations with sister company Bosman Van Zaal's internal for phenotyping logistics systems are not unthinkable, Arnoud indicates. "These are the next steps towards data-driven, automated crop cultivation," he says.
What will change for Polariks?
This company's previous owner is fully cooperating in carrying over Polariks' knowledge, enabling the GreenPeak-IT team to expand hyperspectral applications in the market further. GreenPeak-IT said in a press release. The Polariks' logo has been updated, too, to fit parent company Green Innovators' core identity better.
For more information:
Arnoud Bolten
GreenPEAK-IT
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.greenpeak-it.com