Pharm Robotics advances automated dairy cow healthcare
Pharm Robotics is automating the delivery of pharmaceuticals to cows as they enter the milky parlor. | Credit: Pharm Robotics
Dairy cows require a controlled regime of pharmaceuticals to keep commercial herds in optimal production health. Pharm Robotics offers an automated robotic bovine health center called Sureshot, designed to enhance animal health within the dairy industry.
The company‘s system automates the administration of vaccines and reproductive products to cows, aiming to reduce the need for manual labor and ensure consistent treatment compliance. Sureshot uses industrial robot arms to autonomously deliver an individualized regimen for each cow.
As the cows enter the milking parlor, RFID scanners identify every cow. Then the system looks up the history of inoculations for the animal, and then the robotic arm administers the shot.
The system automatically records the inoculations for the dairy management software. The records are linked to each cow through its RFID tag. The dairy farmer can then see and track the animal’s health history. If at an error occurs in this process, the system sends a text message to the dairy manager in real time of about the problem and what action needs to be taken.
Pharm Robotics updates Sureshot
Pharm Robotics has implemented several updates to its system, including the integration of a new 3D vision system for low-cost injection site identification. The system now incorporates the FANUC CRX-20 collaborative robot, which offers enhanced safety features with dual-force, sensor-based shot confirmation.
A new software stack, powered by machine learning models, has been developed to facilitate faster shot-site acquisition. In addition, the company has adapted its injection tooling to accommodate the new hardware and software configuration.
Pharm Robotics said these developments have enabled fully automated simulated shots on a model cow using the updated full-stack system.
Pharm Robotics recently announced that its system has taken significant strides toward full automation in 2025. The company has relocated its headquarters from San Jacinto, Calif., to Las Vegas and established a presence in West Texas.
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