Starting with a real need in organic farming

Tarımca's interview with İlker Bektaş presents Orbiba Robotics as more than a robot-development project. It describes a response to recurring problems faced by organic and regenerative growers. Incorporated on 19 April 2022, the company develops AI-enabled autonomous platforms intended to assist with weed management, crop observation and the collection of field and soil data.

A notable part of Bektaş's explanation is that not every non-crop plant should automatically be treated in the same way. Data from cameras and other sensors can help distinguish crops from weeds and monitor field conditions. The objective is not to automate blanket chemical use, but to build a more precise management approach capable of acting on the right plant, in the right place and only when intervention is needed.

Automation at a scale smaller farms can use

One of the interview's central messages is that agricultural autonomy should not be defined only by very large fields and heavy machinery. Orbiba's lightweight, modular platform strategy is intended to adapt to different crops on small and mid-sized farms. The concept also connects to practical goals such as limiting soil compaction, operating electrically and changing implements for different jobs.

• Using AI and sensors to distinguish crops from weeds.
• Supporting herbicide-free or lower-input methods in organic production.
• Collecting field data that can improve growers' decisions.
• Combining agronomy, software and mechatronics in one development process.

The interview's strategic message is to treat the robot not as isolated hardware, but as a field system that strengthens growers' decisions. Modularity brings different jobs onto one platform, while success is measured through lower workload, more precise intervention and support for the soil's long-term health.

Source: This original editorial summary is based on Tarımca's interview with Orbiba Robotics CEO İlker Bektaş.