John Deere strengthens agrobotics portfolio with GUSS acquisition

Excessive-value crop growers are presently dealing with challenges round labor availability, enter prices, and crop safety. | Supply: John Deere

John Deere has acquired GUSS Automation, a developer of crop autonomy primarily based in Kingsburg, Calif. Monetary particulars of the acquisition weren’t disclosed. The businesses established a three way partnership in 2022 and at the moment are taking that dedication a step additional. 

John Deere is an unique supplier of GUSS sprayers, and that may proceed to be the case after the acquisition. The enterprise will retain its identify, model, workers, and manufacturing facility in Kingsburg. This facility will increase John Deere’s U.S. manufacturing footprint to the center of the nation’s high-value crop manufacturing market. Excessive-value crops, similar to orchards and vineyards, generate considerably greater worth per acre than grains or oilseeds. 

“Absolutely integrating GUSS into the John Deere portfolio is a continuation of our dedication to serving high-value crop prospects with superior, scalable applied sciences to assist them do extra with much less,” mentioned Julien Le Vely, the director of manufacturing methods for prime worth & small acre crops at John Deere. “GUSS brings a confirmed answer to a fast-growing section of agriculture, and its crew has a deep understanding of buyer wants in orchards and vineyards. We’re excited to have them totally a part of the John Deere crew.”

John Deere mentioned it should assist GUSS in increasing its world attain and accelerating innovation, together with continued integration with different John Deere precision agriculture applied sciences, similar to Good Apply. GUSS sprayers will proceed to make use of John Deere Energy Methods engines, first built-in in 2024.

GUSS Automation brings 2.6 million acres of expertise
Based by Dave Crinklaw in 2018, GUSS manufactures autonomous sprayers that may be remotely supervised. A single operator can handle as much as eight machines without delay. Utilizing GPS, lidar, and proprietary software program, the firm mentioned its machines navigate vineyards and orchards with precision to assist scale back operator error, labor prices, and materials waste.
Up to now, greater than 250 GUSS machines have been deployed globally. These machines account for two.6 million acres sprayed over 500,000 autonomous hours, the corporate claimed. 
“Becoming a member of John Deere permits us to faucet into their unmatched progressive capabilities in precision agriculture applied sciences to convey our options to extra growers world wide,” mentioned Gary Thompson, chief operations officer at GUSS. “Our crew is enthusiastic about serving to high-value crop growers improve their effectivity and productiveness of their operations, and along with John Deere, we can have the power to have a good larger influence.”

John Deere continues to put money into autonomy for agriculture
That is the most recent in a variety of robotics firms John Deere has acquired through the years. It acquired Blue River Expertise in 2017 for $305 million, Bear Flag Robotics in 2021 for $250 million, and SparkAI in 2023 for an undisclosed quantity. Blue River and Bear Flag helped John Deere increase its autonomy capabilities, whereas SparkAI enhanced human-in-the-loop capabilities.
Earlier this yr, at CES 2025, John Deere added full autonomy to the 9 Collection tractors. These are the most important and strongest tractors within the John Deere portfolio. The firm asserted that this transfer demonstrates its dedication to delivering autonomy throughout its whole product vary. John Deere introduced the autonomous 8 Collection tractor at CES 2022, and it mentioned it has now accomplished integration of full autonomy for the highest of its tractor line.
The corporate additionally launched a totally autonomous sprayer for orchards, introduced pilot testing of an autonomous articulating dump truck (ADT) for mining operations, and launched an all-electric, totally autonomous industrial mower that can be launched later this yr.
Study in regards to the newest advances in agricultural robotics at RoboBusiness
This yr’s RoboBusiness, which can be on Oct. 15 and 16 in Santa Clara, Calif., will characteristic a Discipline Robotics observe. Talks on this observe will all concentrate on the varied methods robots are being deployed outdoor, whether or not it’s in agriculture, building, or extra.
This yr’s Discipline Robotics observe will characteristic talks from MassRobotics, e-con Methods, ABB Robotics, Autonomous Options Inc., Polymath Robotics, SKA Robotics, and ForceN.
RoboBusiness is the premier occasion for builders and suppliers of business robots. The occasion is produced by WTWH Media, which additionally produces The Robotic Report, Automated Warehouse, and the Robotics Summit & Expo.
This yr’s convention will embrace greater than 60 audio system, a startup workshop, the annual Pitchfire competitors, and quite a few networking alternatives. Over 100 exhibitors on the present flooring will showcase their newest enabling applied sciences, merchandise, and providers to assist resolve your robotics growth challenges.
Registration is now open for RoboBusiness 2025.