FarmBot

FarmBot
Humanity’s Open-Source CNC Farming Machine

Drag and Drop Farming

Graphically design your farm by dragging and dropping plants into the map. The game-like interface is learned in just a few minutes so you’ll have the whole growing season planned in no time.

 

Farm from Anywhere

The FarmBot web app can be loaded on any computer, tablet, or smartphone with a modern web browser, giving you the power to manage your garden from anywhere at any time.

Using the manual controls, you can move FarmBot and operate its tools and peripherals in real-time. Scare birds away while at work, take photos of your veggies, turn the lights on for a night time harvest, or simply impress your friends and neighbors with a quick demo.

 

Completely Customizable

Our easy-to-use sequence editor allows you to completely customize the way your FarmBot operates. With new support for variables, you can spend less time configuring and more time enjoying the fruits of your FarmBot’s labor.

Best of all, no coding is required; simply drag and drop basic commands into your desired order, adjust the parameters, and save.

Learn more →

 

Setup as fast as one hour

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR TWO MODELS

EXPRESS

The bot for everyone

GENESIS

Our most advanced kit

Premium Hardware

We’ve gone through great lengths to design, manufacture, and source only the highest quality components for our kits.

And because everything is made from aluminum, stainless steel, and UV resistant ABS, FarmBot will last for years in outdoor environments.

Learn more →

Easy and fun to assemble

FarmBot Express and Express XL come 95% pre-assembled in a single box. This makes setup a breeze, even for non-technical people. Meanwhile, Genesis kits are fun DIY projects for students and makers alike. All bots include the required assembly tools.

 

The Nuts and Bolts

Drivetrain

All FarmBots are powered by four powerful NEMA 17 stepper motors, GT2 timing belts and pulleys, and a stainless steel precision leadscrew.

 

Electronics

Our custom electronics feature TMC2130 stepper drivers with built-in stall detection and Raspberry Pi computers for web connectivity.

 

Plates and Brackets

Stamped and machined out of 6061 aluminum, our plates are tumble polished, sandblasted, and anodized to achieve a premium aesthetic.

 

What our customers are saying (and growing)

Scroll left to view more

 

We’ve shipped over 1,000 FarmBots worldwide

Where will you grow?

At home

Grow food for yourself, your family, and your community by installing FarmBot on a raised bed, urban rooftop, or in a small greenhouse at home. Fully automated, hyper-local food production has never been so attainable.

Learn more →

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR TWO MODELS

EXPRESS

The bot for everyone

GENESIS

Our most advanced kit

The Sudweeks Family

Cedar City, Utah

Garrett and Lexie Sudweeks are first generation FarmBot builders passionate about sustainability. Watch them put together their v1.2 FarmBot Genesis kit and hear what it means to them to grow their own food and be a part of the larger open-source FarmBot community.

WATCH THE VIDEO ↑

John G. Wells, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Technology Education
Virginia Tech University

See how John is implementing FarmBot in a multi-generational, research-based fashion that engages undergraduate students, doc students, and faculty at the university and K-12 level.

SEE THE FILM ↑

In class

Over 400 educational institutions have purchased FarmBot kits to engage and inspire the next generation of farmers, engineers, plant scientists, and coders.

By tapping into our global community of schools, universities, DIYers, and professionals, your students will gain first hand experience working in a 21st century collaborative development workflow. Join us and bring this cutting-edge STEM-based learning and research experience to your students.

More educational stories →

More Applications

FarmBot for Accessibility

Thrive Upstate is a non-profit in Greenville, South Carolina that provides people with disabilities services, opportunities, and support, so they may thrive. See how they use FarmBot for horticultural therapy and to empower individuals who otherwise could not grow their own food.

PLAY THE STORY ↑

 

Commercial Production

See how farmers big and small can use FarmBot technology to reduce labor cost, improve efficiency, control inputs, and test new growing methods. Finally, low-cost and repeatable experimentation is here.

LEARN MORE →

 

Growing Food in Space

In 2017, FarmBot and other open-source food groups were invited to NASA to brainstorm open-source approaches to food production. See how FarmBot and our community of open-source contributors are helping humanity grow food in space, on the Moon, and Mars.

WATCH THE DOCUMENTARY ↑

What you can grow

FarmBot is well suited to growing a polycrop of many common garden veggies at the same time. Crops we’ve had success with include Bok Choy, Lettuces, Radish, Beets, Chard, Arugula, Broccoli, and much more.

By placing vining and other indeterminate crops near the ends of the bed and training them outwards, you can easily double or triple the area your plants can utilize while still being maintained by the FarmBot.

Yield

By our estimations, FarmBot Express and FarmBot Genesis can grow all of the veggies needed by one person, continuously, for less cost after roughly 2 years than shopping at the average US grocery store. Meanwhile, our XL bots can serve a family of four with an ROI period as short as 1 year.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR TWO MODELS

EXPRESS

The bot for everyone

GENESIS

Our most advanced kit

How much food can FarmBot grow?

Read our in-depth analysis based on crop needs and performance.

READING TIME: 8 MINUTES →

FarmBot vs the Grocery Store

Cost

FarmBot grown veggies are significantly less expensive than those purchased at the grocery store. The return on investment period is estimated to be between one and two years depending on what you grow.

SEE THE MATH →

 

Sustainability

Compared to standard US veggies, those grown by FarmBot create 25% fewer CO2 emissions. Take FarmBot off-grid and the environmental benefits get even better.

READ MORE →

Which FarmBot is right for you?

Choose one of our Express models if you want to get your FarmBot set up as quickly as possible and only need it to do the basics. Express has been designed for the everyday user in mind and efforts have been made to make this product line as affordable as possible.

Express v1.0

Our most economical FarmBot with the shortest setup time. Suitable for mobile or fixed raised beds at schools, research labs, and in small backyards.

PRE-ORDER

Express XL v1.0

Covers more area per dollar than any of our other FarmBots. Maximize yield and return on investment with this easy-to-use device.

PRE-ORDER

LEARN MORE ABOUT EXPRESS

The bot for everyone

Genesis models offer enhanced capabilities, service larger areas, and have a greater ability to be customized and upgraded. They are designed for prosumers and enthusiasts willing to pay a little more to have every feature and capability at their disposal.

Genesis v1.5

Our flagship kit for prosumers and enthusiasts. Covers 125% the area of Express and has more advanced features and customization options.

PRE-ORDER

Genesis XL v1.5

Top of the line FarmBot with the most advanced hardware covering the largest area. 4x bigger than Genesis and 125% the area of Express XL.

PRE-ORDER

LEARN MORE ABOUT GENESIS

Our most advanced kit

 

Augment FarmBot to suit your needs

Power FarmBot with Solar

FarmBot grown veggies already have a lower CO2 footprint than those purchased at the average US grocery store. Go one step further in reducing impact by powering FarmBot with solar.

SEE HOW →

 

Put FarmBot in a Greenhouse

Have a limited growing season? You can easily place your FarmBot inside a small greenhouse to get a few more months of growing time. Plus, you’ll get some added protection from birds and other pests.

LEARN MORE →

Built to respect your freedom

You are free to use FarmBot as you wish, repair it, change it to suit your needs, and share your modifications in order to help others. We believe these freedoms are vitally important for everyone to have and exercise because they are what empower us to take back control and regain true ownership of our food system.

READ MORE ABOUT YOUR FREEDOMS

Tech Specs

NEW! NEW!

Express v1.0

Express XL v1.0

Genesis v1.5

Genesis XL v1.5

Max machine area 1.2m x 3m 2.4m x 6m 1.5m x 3m 3m x 6m
Max service area 1.1m x 2.7m 2.3m x 5.7m 1.4m x 2.9m 2.9m x 5.9m
Max machine height 1.5m 1.5m 1.5m 1.5m
Max plant height 0.5m 0.5m 0.5m 0.5m
Raised bed interface Rolls directly on wood Rolls directly on wood Aluminum extrusion tracks Aluminum extrusion tracks
Percent pre-assembled 95% 95% 50% 50%
Time to assemble 1 hour 1 hour 18 hours 20 hours
Extrusions Silver anodized aluminum Silver anodized aluminum Silver anodized aluminum Silver anodized aluminum
Plates Silver anodized aluminum Silver anodized aluminum Silver anodized aluminum Silver anodized aluminum
Plastic parts UV stabilized gray ABS UV stabilized gray ABS UV stabilized gray ABS UV stabilized gray ABS
Hardware Stainless steel and aluminum Stainless steel and aluminum Stainless steel and aluminum Stainless steel and aluminum
Tool head 3-in-1 tool head 3-in-1 tool head Universal tool mount Universal tool mount
Interchangeable tooling No No Yes Yes
Seeder Integrated into tool head Integrated into tool head Yes, as interchangeable tool Yes, as interchangeable tool
Watering nozzle Integrated into tool head Integrated into tool head Yes, as interchangeable tool Yes, as interchangeable tool
Weeder Integrated into tool head Integrated into tool head Yes, as interchangeable tool Yes, as interchangeable tool
Soil moisture sensor None None Yes, as interchangeable tool Yes, as interchangeable tool
Soil temperature sensor None None Included with moisture sensor Included with moisture sensor
Custom tool support None None Yes Yes
Camera IP67 rainproof USB Camera IP67 rainproof USB Camera IP67 rainproof USB Camera IP67 rainproof USB Camera
Seed containers 2x seed troughs 2x seed troughs 1x seed bin
2x seed trays
1x seed bin
2x seed trays
2x seed troughs
Tool and seed slots 1x gantry seed trough holster 1x gantry seed trough holster 2x 3-slot toolbays 1x gantry seed trough holster
2x 3-slot toolbays
3x 1-slot toolbays
Computer Raspberry Pi Zero W Raspberry Pi Zero W Raspberry Pi 3 B Raspberry Pi 3 B
Real-time clock Yes Yes Yes Yes
Microcontroller Farmduino Express v1.0 Farmduino Express v1.0 Farmduino v1.5 Farmduino v1.5
Stepper drivers 4x TMC2130 integrated chips 4x TMC2130 integrated chips 5x TMC2130 integrated chips 5x TMC2130 integrated chips
Motors 4x NEMA 17 stepper motors 4x NEMA 17 stepper motors 4x NEMA 17 stepper motors 4x NEMA 17 stepper motors
Rotary encoders None None Included Included
Stall detection Yes, via driver chips Yes, via driver chips Yes, via encoders Yes, via encoders
Closed-loop positioning No No Yes, via encoders Yes, via encoders
Solenoid valve 24V, normally closed 24V, normally closed 24V, normally closed 24V, normally closed
Vacuum 24V, diaphragm pump 24V, diaphragm pump 24V, diaphragm pump 24V, diaphragm pump
LED light strip Included, 1.2m length Included, 2.4m length Included, 1.5m length Included, 3m length
Extra peripheral plugs None None 2x extra plugs 2x extra plugs
Push buttons E-stop E-stop E-stop
Unlock
3x user customizable
E-stop
Unlock
3x user customizable
LED indicators None None Sync
Connection
2x user customizable
Sync
Connection
2x user customizable
Power supply 150W, IP67 waterproof 150W, IP67 waterproof 150W, IP67 waterproof 150W, IP67 waterproof
Input voltage 110 to 220V AC 110 to 220V AC 110 to 220V AC 110 to 220V AC
PRE-ORDER PRE-ORDER PRE-ORDER PRE-ORDER

Software

You control and configure FarmBot using the free FarmBot web application at my.farm.bot. We expect to indefinitely offer free service adequate for home growing needs, though we may charge for commercial or industrial FarmBot usage, for FarmBots larger than 3m x 6m in area, and/or for FarmBots growing large numbers of plants concurrently. You can always host the software on your own server if you do not want to use our service.

 

Warranty

We’re committed to providing you with the highest quality product. As we continue to develop FarmBot hardware and software, we will make changes. The final product that we ship to you may be different than the one shown in our videos, photos, documentation, and as described on our websites. If anything is damaged or defective, we will replace the parts free of charge within 30 days of delivery of the product. See our limited warranty for more information.

What you need to provide

Planter Bed
All FarmBots must be mounted to a raised bed or similar infrastructure. Neither materials for the bed nor soil are included with the kits because every installation will be different, and shipping lumber and soil would be prohibitively expensive.

 

Electricity
FarmBot must be plugged into a 110 or 220V outlet. The 30cm (1ft) power cord comes with a standard US 3-prong plug. You must connect this to your own extension cord if needed. Customers outside the US: you must provide a plug adapter if needed.

 

Water
FarmBot’s water system has a 3/4″ female Garden Hose Thread (GHT) connection, meaning you can take a standard US garden hose and screw it into your FarmBot. You will need to provide a hose of the appropriate length.

 

Internet
FarmBot can only be controlled using the web app, so an internet connection is required. The Raspberry Pi has built-in WiFi, though you may need to reposition your WiFi router or install a repeater to ensure a reliable connection.

 

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