TerraClear combines a smartphone control app, drones that capture high-resolution field imagery, and AI to identify rocks and produce digital rock maps showing rock locations. The generated rock maps provide the operational prerequisites for subsequent rock-picker machinery. In developing its rock-picker, TerraClear has implemented three different functional manipulator arms, including a commonly used hydraulic-driven arm. The company positions these designs to make rock removal in fields more intelligent and automated. TerraClear recently announced completion of a $15 million financing described as a strategic investment. TerraClear builds an automated Rock Picker robot that uses AI plus mapping and third-party drone systems to identify and remove large rocks from fields. The system can pick up to 400 rocks per hour and move rocks weighing as much as 300 pounds. The company says its technology reduces the labor and time needed to prep fields for planting across hundreds of millions of arable acres. TerraClear is Bellevue, Washington–based and its Rock Picker is now available for preorder. CEO Brent Frei framed the opportunity as a large unmet need for a cost-effective solution. The business is scaling production and sales next year and plans to grow headcount with the new funding. TerraClear develops smart agricultural implements that automate rock picking by integrating machine vision, aerial sensing, neural networks, and advanced robotics into an end-to-end solution. The company's implement and software target large-scale farms to reduce machine downtime caused by rocks and increase uptime for fast-moving equipment. TerraClear recently opened a lab and test facility in Grangeville, Idaho, and maintains offices in Bellevue, Washington and Grangeville to engage with farmers and conduct field testing. The company plans to use new funding to accelerate hiring, product development, and testing. Founded in December 2017, TerraClear has raised more than $13 million in total capital since inception. Leadership additions tied to the recent raise include Madrona Managing Director Matt McIlwain joining the board and Trevor Thompson being named president.

Total raised

$46M

Funding rounds

3

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

May 2024