How Robotic Dogs are Guarding Ag Assets

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 23:32:40 GMT

According to the National Equipment Register, $300 million to $1 billion in heavy equipment is stolen every year. Other threats such as feral hogs can rob the ag industry of $1.6 billion in a single year as well, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. However, a new four-legged, robotic companion could help solve these issues.

Taking the form of a dog, the Asylon DroneDog , a robotic and autonomous security system, is stepping up to the plate.

“They do the dull, dangerous, dirty tasks that humans don’t like to do and don’t do as well when they get mundane and repetitive,” says Dennis Crowley , chief growth officer for Asylon Robotics .

Monitoring Farms and Fields from the Palm of Your Hand

Instead of owning the robots, farmers purchase Asylon Robotics services. To put into action, the company will manually patrol a route. Once the route is established, the robot dog will autonomously monitor the area. It can also be controlled from a remote location.

Farmers have live access to whatever the dog is seeing and detecting, such as intruders, a wild animal and even damage to fences via a phone or other device. Asylon’s command center receives the same view.

“DroneDog takes advantage of the things that a traditional human can do and adds to that the capabilities of a machine,” Crowley explains. “It still requires a human in the loop on the back end who is monitoring, working and getting the information to have situational awareness and make a good decision.”

Apart from security, Crowley says the technology could potentially be used for other areas in agriculture in the future. Collaborating with farmers, he sees potential for equipment and pressure gauge inspections.

Why the Four-Legged Design Conquers Tough Terrain

Crowley explains constructing the robot in the shape of the four-legged animal has plenty of advantages. It can handle various terrain and ground materials with stability. With legs instead of wheels, it can go places where the latter cannot.

“If it does fall over, it’s able to right itself and get back up. It doesn’t need anyone to go out and help it,” he explains.

He also adds that aerial drones might not be able to get you into tight corners and spaces like the DroneDog.

How Bayer Uses DroneDog for Security Detail

Bayer Global has used DroneDogs for about two years to guard seed corn fields and equipment in Hawaii and California from human, animal and natural threats, including thieves, vandals, feral hogs, deer, flooding and wildfires.

Matthew Paschoal, corporate security lead for the western U.S. and the Pacific regions of Bayer, says the technology has been a “game-changer” as he tries to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to security.

“These dogs checked all the boxes,” he says.

One of Bayer’s sites spans 387 acres, and the DroneDog and humans split the security detail.

“It’s not a replacement; I look at it as a supplementation. It’s a force multiplier for our teams,” Paschoal explains.

This extra reinforcement allows the company to raise its patrol frequency and footprint. The DroneDog takes the graveyard shift patrolling fields in Kihei, Hawaii, after the day shift goes home, and can work 16-hour days.

Security staff can be difficult to keep because of the schedule and work itself, Paschoal shares. However, with this new technology the company does not have to worry as much when they are down employees.

“We’re able to gain efficiency by not having to rehire anybody because we have the dog,” Paschoal explains.

Meet The Hawaiian Corn Farmer

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 06:23:13 GMT

Bob Starke spent his high school years working on farms in northwest Missouri. Today he is still “on the farm,” but his fields are far from home.

“On Oahu we have three different farms. We have two farms on the island of Maui, and we have one farm on the island of Molokai,” says Starke, the site manager of Bayer U.S. – Crop Science’s farms on Oahu, Hawaii.

Consistent Crop Climate

Seed companies have been growing crops in Hawaii for over 50 years. Most of Bayer’s work in Hawaii is with corn, since the climate allows for year-round production.

“Honolulu is the city with the most consistent weather anywhere in the United States,” Starke says.

Daytime temperatures are usually between 85 and 95 degrees year-round.

Rainfall on the farm in Kunia, just outside of Honolulu, is up to 20" per year. However, more than 200" of rain may fall in the mountains just 25 miles away. The rainfall is captured in the mountains and used for purposes suc as drip irrigation on the research farm.

“That water has been coming to the central Oahu valley for about 100 years,” Starke says. “It’s been used for sugar, it’s been used for pineapple, it’s been used for all types of agriculture.”

Technology Timeline

Each Fall, Bayer evaluates hybrids in the mainland U.S. The most promising new varieties may be sent to Hawaii so more seed can be grown.

“By the time you develop a new line and then develop the hybrids that come with it, you would be testing it between six to nine generations,” he says.

With the ability to grow corn in Hawaii during the winter months, this may reduce the time from eight years down to four years. If needed, they can grow three or four crops of corn here in a year to expedite testing.

The process is labor intensive. “What we’re really concerned with is each individual plant and in some cases, each individual kernel of corn,” Starke says.

At peak times, up to 300 employees may work on the farm covering silks or tassels on individual plants as part of the corn breeding program.

Starke’s employees keep parts and tires for equipment on-hand. “It could be a month to get some parts on island,” he says. While there are some equipment dealers who can assist with parts and labor on the islands, several items must be fixed in their in-house shop.

Production in Paradise

Starke has overseen Bayer’s Oahu farm over three years now. He and his family enjoy the climate, the friendly people and the new experiences that come with living in Hawaii. However, there are some things he misses.

“Warm Christmases,” are a change, he says. “When you’re hanging up Christmas lights and you’re sweating, that’s not a good thing.”

Drawing upon his travels and experiences as a farmer and rancher, radio broadcaster and speaker, Andrew McCrea shares stories on “U.S. Farm Report,” a daily radio segment and weekly podcast.