Balanced Engineering LLC

Two weeks ago,?Rick Weires, co-founder of?Balanced Engineering LLC, was honored to share the stage with a distinguished group of innovators at FIRA - World Ag Robotics Forum, in Toulouse, France. Rick and his fellow panelists tackled key questions on the future of autonomy in agriculture. ? Key Takeaways from the Panel Discussion: Franck Jung, Director of Product Engineering at?Na?o Technologies, explored how robots and traditional machines can synchronize in complex field environments. Clément BARON at?AgreenCulture, tackled the technical challenges of multi-robot collaboration. Andrew Olliver, Digital Product Manager at?CNH? and?AEF – Agricultural Industry Electronics Foundation - Chairman, explained AEF’s role in establishing autonomy guidelines. Rick Weires?shared how environmental conditions impact the safety of autonomous operations. ? These insights are just a sampling from the panel discussion and just a glimpse into the wealth of knowledge shared at FIRA - World Ag Robotics Forum the premier global event for agricultural robotics. If you missed it, don’t worry! Mark your calendar for?FIRA – USA, happening October 21-23, 2025, in Woodland, California. ? Partner with Balanced Engineering Looking to enhance the safety, efficiency, and customer satisfaction with your autonomous equipment??Balanced Engineering?is here to help. Let’s connect and drive innovation together!

Two weeks ago,?Rick Weires, co-founder of?Balanced Engineering LLC, was honored to share the stage with a distinguished group of innovators at FIRA - World Ag Robotics Forum, in Toulouse, France. Rick and his fellow panelists tackled key questions on the future of autonomy in agriculture. ? Key Takeaways from the Panel Discussion: Franck Jung, Director of Product Engineering at?Na?o Technologies, explored how robots and traditional machines can synchronize in complex field environments. Clément BARON at?AgreenCulture, tackled the technical challenges of multi-robot collaboration. Andrew Olliver, Digital Product Manager at?CNH? and?AEF – Agricultural Industry Electronics Foundation - Chairman, explained AEF’s role in establishing autonomy guidelines. Rick Weires?shared how environmental conditions impact the safety of autonomous operations. ? These insights are just a sampling from the panel discussion and just a glimpse into the wealth of knowledge shared at FIRA - World Ag Robotics Forum the premier global event for agricultural robotics. If you missed it, don’t worry! Mark your calendar for?FIRA – USA, happening October 21-23, 2025, in Woodland, California. ? Partner with Balanced Engineering Looking to enhance the safety, efficiency, and customer satisfaction with your autonomous equipment??Balanced Engineering?is here to help. Let’s connect and drive innovation together!

Thank you for joining us, José Carlos M., during the complete visit in Pittsburgh and Sacramento. Yes, FIRA - World Ag Robotics Forum was a great event. Automation is becoming more and more mature for commercial scale.

Our team visited Carnegie Mellon University! Martial Hebert, Dean and Professor of the School of Computer Science, presented Carnegie Mellon University including details of the , highlighting applied research and corporate engagement. Then we had Herman Herman and Roger VanHoy give us a tour of the National Robotics Engineering Center, with their technological innovations in the market, such as autonomous tractors, grain sensors, sugarcane monitoring, and solutions in defense and construction. Later in campus, at the Robotics Institute, Matthew Johnson-Roberson shared insights about over 80 robotics companies in Pittsburgh. Nancy Pollard presented adaptable robotic hands, while Abhisesh Silwal focused on agricultural automation and Lu Li brought innovations in biorobotics. We had a welcome surprise with Howie Choset welcome us in great Portuguese. Obrigado, Howie. After touring the Foam Robotics and George Kantor labs, Theresa Mayer and Meredith Meyer Grelli discussed the application of specialized knowledge and entrepreneurship programs. We also met Brazilian students who enriched the exchange of ideas on technology and innovation (look for a special post on this). Finally, we concluded our day by visiting Mill 19, an innovation center that connects and develops advanced technologies for robotics and automation. Rod Heiple and Philip Lehman showcased advances in industrial robotics and plans for new research facilities. A surprise: we found a team working on ag robot prototype for moss, one of the digital companies we met on Monday. It was an inspiring connection! Balanced Engineering LLC Robotics Factory, Suzano, Raízen, Atvos, Citrosuco, Tereos, Fundecitrus, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh Robotics Network, Innovation Works, Pittsburgh Region. Next is Now. #AgritechExperience #Agricef #AgTech #Agriculture #Robotics #Automation #SustainableFarming #Sustainability #Technology #Farming #BalancedEngineering

The third day of the AgriTech Experience took place at Penn State University, where its strengths in biosystems engineering and global collaboration were highlighted, particularly with Brazil. The university is globally recognized for its excellence in research, philanthropy, talent recruitment, and the development of technologies for agricultural robotics. Christina Grozinger presented how to use AI to conserve pollinator biodiversity, while Bo Chang discussed robotic developments inspired by biological systems. Deanna Behring and Siela Maximova addressed global initiatives in sustainable agriculture. In the afternoon, we visited the SmartAg Lab, where Francesco Di Gioia showcased innovative projects in precision agriculture. We thank Blair Siegfried, Gretta Tritch Roman, and John Peterson for hosting us and sharing incredible insights! The connections gained today are essential for the development of robotic solutions in agriculture! Balanced Engineering LLC, Robotics Factory, Suzano, Raízen, Atvos, Citrosuco, Tereos, Fundecitrus, Carnegie Mellon University, University of California, Davis, Pittsburgh Robotics Network, FIRA - World Ag Robotics Forum, Innovation Works, Pittsburgh Region. Next is Now. #AgritechExperience #Agricef #AgTech #Agriculture #Robotics #Automation #SustainableFarming #Sustainability #Technology #Farming #BalancedEngineering

On the second day of Agritech Experience, key members of the Pittsburgh and the Pennsylvania innovation ecosystem share about their organizations and members. Jennifer Apicella, Executive Director of the Pittsburgh Robotics Network, highlighted Pittsburgh as a global robotics hub. Michael Roth, Director of Conservation and Innovation at the AGRICULTURE, PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF, spoke about the integration of technology in agriculture. Katia McLaughlin,?Agricultural Coordinator at the Office of Transformation and Opportunity, addressed initiatives to make the state more business-friendly. Kelly Kundratic, Agricultural Policy Director at Team Pennsylvania, stressed the mission of strengthening the economy through public-private partnerships. Notable companies like Carnegie Robotics, represented by John Bares and Matthew Dudik, showed their engineering capabilities in autonomous systems, while Neya Systems, with Amanda Sgroi and Andrew Capodieci, focuses on simulations of uncrewed vehicles. Near Earth Autonomy, under Marcel Bergerman, offers autonomous aerial solutions. Thank you to the visitors and organizing companies: Balanced Engineering LLC, Robotics Factory, Suzano, Raízen, Atvos, Citrosuco, Tereos, Fundecitrus, Carnegie Mellon University, Penn State University, University of California, Davis, Innovation Works, Pittsburgh Region. Next is Now.

On the first day of the Agritech Experience in Pittsburgh, we focused on two key areas: innovation ecosystem and digital agriculture, and joined a remarkable AI event in town: AI Horizons focused on commercializing “Human-first AI”. Kevin Dowling shared the city, state, and federal support to foster the robotics and AI talent, companies, and universities. Innovation Works invests in early stage companies. The Robotics Factory is really a factory of “Robotic Companies”. The afternoon focused on the advances in digital agriculture presented by moss Di Hu, Enriched Ag Robbie Sedgewick, Bloomfield Andrew Littell and Leaficient Brian Stancil. For the crops visiting us (eucalyptus, sugar cane and citrus), tracking health and growth over multiple seasons may provide significnat value to yield and operations planning. To witness how artificial intelligence can contribute to a better world, we attended the session "Navigating Truth in the Age of AI," hosted by AI Horizons Pittsburgh. There we met our hosts at Carnegie Mellon University. Theresa Mayer and George Darakos, looking forward to our visit on Thursday. The day concluded with a networking event, bringing together attendees from organizations such as Balanced Engineering LLC, Robotics Factory, Suzano, Raízen, Atvos, Citrosuco, Tereos, Fundecitrus, University of California, Davis, Pittsburgh Robotics Network, Innovation Works, and Pittsburgh Region. Next is Now. The future is now! Our journey has just begun! Follow us on social media for exclusive updates on the Agritech Experience! #AgritechExperience #Agricef #AgTech #BalancedEngineering #Agriculture #Robotics #Automation #SustainableFarming #Sustainability #Technology #Farming

Agritech Experience takes you on a journey into agricultural robotics! The U.S. is at the forefront of robotics, artificial intelligence, and automation development, with significant advancements in agricultural applications. To learn about these developments and seek opportunities to continue improving agribusiness in Brazil, various Brazilian companies are visiting two centers of agricultural robotics technology: Pennsylvania and California. The journey includes universities such as Carnegie Mellon University, Penn State University, and University of California, Davis, as well as meetings with prominent companies and startups from the Pittsburgh Robotics Network and the FIRA - World Ag Robotics Forum.?In addition to them, we have the support of our partners Balanced Engineering LLC, Robotics Factory, Pittsburgh Region. Next is Now., Innovation Works. With this, we created the Agritech Experience initiative! Follow our social media to see our journey firsthand. #AgritechExperience #Agricef #AgTech #Agriculture #Robotics #Automation #Firausa24 #SustainableFarming #Sustainability #Tecnology #Farming #BalancedEngineering

Agritech Experience takes you on a journey into agricultural robotics! The U.S. is at the forefront of robotics, artificial intelligence, and automation development, with significant advancements in agricultural applications. To learn about these developments and seek opportunities to continue improving agribusiness in Brazil, various Brazilian companies are visiting two centers of agricultural robotics technology: Pennsylvania and California. The journey includes universities such as Carnegie Mellon University, Penn State University, and University of California, Davis, as well as meetings with prominent companies and startups from the Pittsburgh Robotics Network and the FIRA - World Ag Robotics Forum.?In addition to them, we have the support of our partners Balanced Engineering LLC, Robotics Factory, Pittsburgh Region. Next is Now., Innovation Works. With this, we created the Agritech Experience initiative! Follow our social media to see our journey firsthand. #AgritechExperience #Agricef #AgTech #Agriculture #Robotics #Automation #Firausa24 #SustainableFarming #Sustainability #Tecnology #Farming #BalancedEngineering

Another important event towards commercialization of safe autonomy in agriculture. If you are interested in commercializing automated and autonomous ag equipment, or in discussing issues such as risk, insurability, regulations and policy, workforce, and societal implications of such technologies, consider attending. Balanced Engineering LLC (partnering with the Center for Digital Agriculture at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and many other partners) will support the organization and execution of the second edition of the SAFER AG Workshop. Please register here: https://lnkd.in/gfRnGgpK See you in early December. Rick Weires Ernest Streicher Renata Dallagnese Anita Knipper Niels Dybro Vinícius Corrêa Nitin Agrawal Efraim Albrecht