MiRobot

A prototype of the MiRobot milking robot

MiRobot is developing the next-generation automatic robotic milking system for cost-effective, high-performance milking in medium and large dairy farms (150 to >1,000 cows).

Designed as an add-on to conventional milking parlor equipment, MiRobot’s system comprises fully automatic robotic arms installed in each milking stall. The robotic arms perform cleaning, stimulating, attaching the milking cluster, and post-milking routines to enable a milking procedure that is very high quality and uniform.

The MiRobot multi-stall system will allow farmers to –

• establish big data infrastructure in the milking parlor, and
• milk dozens of cows simultaneously with only one supervisor, compared to current operations, which requires three to six operators.

Current milking parlor vs. milking parlor with MiRobot

IP

2 major patents, one granted, second pending

Fully functioning prototype installed in a working milking parlor, operating on live cows has demonstrated MiRobot’s patent-pending system works under the most rigorous conditions and successfully performs pre- and post-milking routines.

In the Media

• The Daily Beast: The Robotic Dairy Farms Paving the Way for Big Milk
• NoCamels: Feeding The World: Could Israeli Agtech Start-ups End World Hunger?

• Robotics and big data represent an attractive investment sector.
  • Robotics in agriculture, specifically, is a popular investment area.
  • Venture capital investment in 2016 totaled nearly $2 billion.
  • In 2016, there were more than 50 M&A robotics deals totaling more than $19 billion (The Robot Report).

• MiRobot’s system represents an affordable add-on —
  • Reduces labor costs by >67%
  • Increases parlor throughput by >40%
  • Yields better quality milk

Current routines in conventional milking parlors rely extensively on manual operations: cleaning, stimulating milk release, attaching the milking equipment, and disinfecting the teats after milking. Trained operators perform these repetitive routines, which may result in inconsistent quality of performance, sub-optimal throughput of the milking stalls, and drive up labor costs.

Key markets (United States, Western Europe, Australia) include more than 100,000 dairy farms with 150 cows or more. According to MiRobot estimates, the market potential in these markets is nearly $4 billion.