Strawberry farming robots are oh so sweet

Crops automated farming equipment

There is nothing nicer than biting into a sweet, ripe strawberry. But, on the flip side, it doesn’t sound pleasant having to stand in the sun and bend over all day to pick them. Here’s another brilliant chance for robots. And intelligent companies, like Advanced Farm Technologies, are grasping it.

The founders of Advanced Farm Technologies previously owned Greenbotics, a company using robots to service and wash solar panels. So, it’s clear they’re not afraid of new technology. In fact the company prides itself on using robots to improve costs and quality for customers, and improve conditions for workers. And, it’s not afraid to impress us with what these bots can do.

The tech team

The company’s strawberry harvesting robots, T-6s, have multiple robotic arms topped with soft grips, to delicately handle the berries. The grips are easy to clean and replace, designed with food safety in mind. The robots also help pick for picky eaters: the stems come off, meaning the berries are ready to eat now. On America’s West Coast, strawberries are harvested 70 times each season. Hence, Advanced Farm Technologies has its robot prototypes in Oxnard, Santa Maria and the Salinas-Watsonville regions.

And it’s not the first company to bring robots into agriculture. Harvest CROO Robotics is doing a similar thing. The Florida based company is revolutionizing the agriculture industry with its automatic harvester, Berry 5 (B5). The B5 is expected to be put to work next harvesting season. It’ll need workers to pack the berries for now, but the aim is to provide a fully autonomous process. Vision Robotics has developed a robot with the ability to thin lettuce, prune grapevines and weed unwanted areas. Soon, these robots will be a common sight. The autonomous, or self-driving, tracker market was worth $648.9 million in 2016, and is expected to hit $4,389.8 million in the next five years.

It’s not just robotics

The agriculture industry is getting smarter at using its data too. Tech startup agtools is helping farmers maximize their crop, by using AI tools to plan their harvest. It then works as a communication system: consumer trends and crop data > farmer > product data > retailers and buyers. Buyers are given information about market availability, surplus and pricing shifts. In between, shipping companies receive data and insights, helping them plan the most efficient timing and routes. The final product is a smart, connected supply chain.

Startups in the industry saw a 43% increase in funding from 2017 to 2018, and it’s not expected to stop any time soon.

Are you developing agriculturural robotics or technology? Did you know your work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’s largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms, offering tax credibility assessments, claim preparation, and advisory services. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation & audit compliance to claim disputes. 

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPA’s.  For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

Molekule Air purifiers: clean air, clever tech

dining kitchen safety

If you look at any news today, ‘air pollution’ is going to be in a major headline, and increasingly, we’re talking about both outside and indoors. ‘Going green’ and ‘eco-friendly’ will be there too. There’s a theme: we all want to live in cleaner air. Californian tech company Molekule is making that a reality with its green air purifying revolution.

Because of his son’s asthma and allergies, Molekule’s Chief Scientist Dr. Yogi Goswami turned to scientific research to find a better way to clean air. That was 1995. Now, more than 20 years later, the company sells one of the top air purifiers on the market, using some of the most ground breaking technology. Molekule sells two purifiers: the Molekule Air purifier is built for rooms up to 600 sqft, and the Molekule Air Mini purifier is ideal for small spaces up to 250 sqft. Not only do they look like something out of a space film, but their technology is almost futuristic.

The tech

The innovative tech is what makes these machine. At the bottom of the filters is a 360° air intake system. From there the pollutants travel up through a pre-filter, where big particles like dust and hair get collected. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs, like acetone from nail polish or benzene from paint or glue) are slowed down. They head upwards to Molekule’s patented Photo Electrochemical Oxidation (PECO) filter.

Here’s where the magic happens.

The PECO system uses free radicals: unstable atoms which have recently been found to participate in mechanisms of anticancer therapy. These free radicle nanoparticles cover the filter and create chemical reactions when light hits. This chemical reaction break down VOCs, bacteria, mold, viruses and allergens. The process creates byproducts of water vapors, carbon dioxide and nitrogen – safe chemicals which are released back into the air.

The big deal

Most air purifiers collect particles, rather than destroying them. Although this helps in the short term, it creates long time issues; when a filter becomes saturated it can perform badly. It can also release those toxins back into the air, deeming the filters redundant. Ozone is another concern – it’s a byproduct created by most filters. We think of ozone in the atmosphere, and while it’s helpful there it’s not so much in our homes. Breathing it in can cause chest pain, coughing, throat irritation, and can even lead to respiratory diseases. Molekule’s filter is a big deal because it destroys particles and it doesn’t product ozone, in fact it reduces it.

Are you creating new products using molecular technology? Did you know your work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’s largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms, offering tax credibility assessments, claim preparation, and advisory services. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation & audit compliance to claim disputes. 

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPA’s.  For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

A California startup has just made major leaps towards solving climate change, and it’s not slowing down

microgrid

Environmental tech startup Heliogen has achieved a scientific breakthrough, reaching over 1000°C with concentrated solar energy. At this temperature, it can replace fossil fuels in producing cement, steel and petrochemicals. But, the company says it’s not stopping there. Its next goal is 1500°C; then it can split water and carbondioxide, to create gas used to power factories and fuel cars.

Heliogen’s mission is to reduce greenhouse gases as quickly as possible, in an effort to reverse the effects of climate change. In the last 270 years, more than 392 billion metric tons of carbon have been release into the atmostphere due to fossil fuels. Half of that’s happened in the last 35 years, since the mid 1980s. Industrial processes, like making concrete, are responsible for more than a fifth of all emissions. Using solar energy is a step in the right direction.

How do they do it?

Commercial concentrating solar thermal systems have previously been able to generate power, reaching up to 565°C. But industrial processes are burning through fossil fuels at accelerated rates and the climate crisis calls for bigger action. Heliogen reached the breakthrough temperatures because of its tech. It uses advanced computer software to align a large number of mirrors to reflect sunlight towards a specific target. The mirrors act as one, thanks to a closed-loop control system. The light is targeted towards a tower with a receiver, which converts the sunlight into ultra-high temperature heat.

What if we got rid of fossil fuels today?

Sadly, the world isn’t ready to stop using fossil fuels just yet. But, just for a moment forget the administrative headache of switching to entirely renewable energy sources, and take an optimistic view. Pollution would almost entirely end – both because mining would end, and because there would be no way to make non-biodegradable products without petroleum. Public health would improve because of the drop in pollution, meaning Americans would save US$74.6 billion every year that’s currently spent on coal-related health issues. Most importantly, the halt in carbon emissions would put a halt to climate change.

Are you developing a way to alleviate climate change? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms, offering tax credibility assessments, claim preparation, and advisory services. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation & audit compliance to claim disputes. 

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPA’s.  For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

Retinal degeneration is being helped by an augmented reality vision

research universities variable focus lenses

Augmented reality usually makes us see things that aren’t really there. But, for some, this tech is helping them see what is there. California startup Eyedaptic is using augmented reality to improve the vision of those suffering from retinal disorders. The company’s prototype is designed to improve reading and everyday tasks in individuals with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Eyedaptic’s AdaptiVu for AMD: sounds confusing, so what is it?

AMD is the number one cause of vision loss in people over 50; more than 170 million people just in the US suffer from it. It occurs when a small portion of the retina, the macular, is damaged or worn down. Right now there’s no cure, just treatments to delay its progression or improve the vision.

Eyedaptic’s device looks like glorified sunglasses, but it’s so much more than that. The adaptive augmented reality software simulates a person’s natural vision. It creates a whole picture for the user, rather than just magnifying what’s in front of them. The battery-powered tech also has built-in training aids for user-friendly setup and use. AdaptiVu was designed alongside ophthalmology retinal specialists, optometrists and occupational therapists, with the hope that people suffering from retinal diseases like AMD can have almost their full vision back.

Eyedaptic won second place at San Diego’s QuickPitch competition this year, beating almost 300 other startups just to be there and taking home $10,000 in prize money. The competition featured 10 biotech and tech startup executives, each with two minutes to convince the judging panel that their company was a promising business venture. And Eyedaptics is proving just that.

AR is the practical person’s VR

While virtual reality (VR) takes you to a whole other world, augmented reality (AR) uses technology to add pictures or other digital elements to reality. Because of this, it’s taking over from VR as some seriously talked-about tech. AR’s full posibilities aren’t yet known, but games such as Pokemon Go, or medical training without the need for cadavers, are proving that it’s going to be a big part of our future.

Are you working with augmented or virtual reality to make medical technology? Did you know your R&D work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firm, offering tax credibility assessments, claim preparation, and advisory services. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation & audit compliance to claim disputes. 

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPA’s.  For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

Alternative Fertility Monitoring in 2018: San Francisco-based Modern Fertility develops economical at-home hormone test

mother

Women are putting off having children to build up a career and economic status. Those in their 30s are having more children than women in their 20s. However, as women age, hormonal changes follow thus affecting the chances of conceiving.

Modern Fertility, a San Francisco-based startup, wants to help women ignite important fertility conversations with their doctors. To do so, Modern Fertility created an at-home hormone test. The test can be ordered online where a doctor will review the order and customize it based on the type of birth control a client is on. Once it arrives, one can choose to be tested at home or at a local Quest Diagnostics lab. The at-home test simply requires the client to prick her finger and collect a blood sample–the accumulated blood should then be placed onto the provided test strip. The strip is then sent to a CLIA Certified lab where it is tested for nine hormones. Once reviewed by a physician, a private profile is sent back that explains how hormone levels may affect the number of eggs a woman has left, if her process of ovulation is normal, and other red flags that could affect a fertility window. Other trackable signals include if the onset of menopause could happen at an earlier age, and if egg freezing or IVF is the right way to go.

Carley Leahy and Afton Vechery co-founded Modern Fertility. “We’re really speaking to women much earlier in life who know that a career may be important and they may want to have children down the road, but want to be able to check in proactively,” Leahy said. “Modern Fertility is the first step for women. We’re really working with women before they get to a doctor’s office and giving them this information so that they can have a more informed conversation with their doctor,” Vechery said. “We found that you can go to a fertility clinic and take simple blood tests to check in on where you stand. But no everyone can afford them and the results can be tricky to decipher. We use information to get smart about everything in our lives—relationships, money, school. Why is something as formative as fertility still a black box?,” a statement from Leahy and Vechery said.

The Modern Fertility hormone test costs $199 compared to a $600 clinical doctor consultation. The company still recommends consulting with your doctor about any test results. More information about Modern Fertility can be found by clicking here.

Are you making fertility monitoring more accessible or convenient? Did you know that you can receive up to 14% back on your research expenses with the R&D Tax Credit? To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is a Specialist R&D tax advisory firm, offering tax credibility assessments, claim preparation, and advisory services to the state of California. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program in California, from claim prep & audit compliance to claim disputes. 

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs.  For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

Saving Lives with Smartphone Apps: Earthquakes in California and Mexico

hands 1283183 1920

Two powerful earthquakes struck Mexico earlier this month, ravaging the country and resulting in hundreds of casualties. Thankfully, fewer lives were lost compared to 1985’s earthquake that claimed thousands of lives and billions of dollars in damages. Smartphone apps may have been a contributing factor.

After 1985, the Mexican Seismic Alert System (Sasmex) was developed, an alert system detecting seismic tremors along the Western coast and sending at least a minute’s notice to residents of an impending quake via radio and television. Sasmex has since connected to smartphone apps like Sismos Mexico and Earthquake Alert, improving its speed and accessibility. The sooner the warning reaches residents, the faster they can safely take cover.

Continue reading

U.S. Universities Spending More on Research and Development

campus shot blur

U.S. universities are spending more and more on R&D these days. In 2015 alone, colleges and universities spent a combined $68.8 billion on research and development with the top 20 colleges accounting for 30% of that.

To discover the universities spending the most in research and development, 24/7 Wall St. assessed R&D expenditure by university for the 2015 fiscal year with data from the National Science Foundation. Of the 1,871 major colleges and universities reviewed, 10 schools spent more than $1 billion on R&D.

Top 10 Universities for R&D Expenditure

  1. Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland
    • Annual R&D spend: $2.31 billion
  2. University of Michigan
    • Annual R&D spend: $1.37 billion
  3. University of Washington
    • Annual R&D spend: $1.18 billion
  4. University of California, San Francisco
    • Annual R&D spend: $1.13 billion
  5. University of California, San Diego
    • Annual R&D spend: $1.10 billion
  6. University of Wisconsin – Madison
    • Annual R&D spend: $1.07 billion
  7. Duke University in Raleigh, North Carolina
    • Annual R&D spend: $1.04 billion
  8. Stanford University in Stanford, California
    • Annual R&D spend: $1.02 billion
  9. University of California, Los Angeles
    • Annual R&D spend: $1.02 billion
  10. Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts
    • Annual R&D spend: $1.01 billion

Contact Us

If your company is conducting R&D through a local university or college, you may be eligible for a higher R&D tax credit rate. Contact a Swanson Reed specialist to find out more information.

How Does Your State Rank on the Innovation Scale?

business 561388 960 720

Innovation Is Key

Innovation is crucial to sustainable economic growth, but for innovation to occur businesses must have both the incentive and the capacity to invest.

As innovation is key to the United States’ economy as a whole, many U.S. states are showing off while others are falling short when it comes to patents, R&D, venture capital and academics.

So which states are excelling in innovation and which ones are lacking, you ask?

Patents

The top states in patents per population include:

  1. Wisconsin
  2. Washington
  3. Texas
  4. Utah
  5. California
  6. Massachusetts

The bottom five patented states include:

  1. Alaska
  2. Mississippi
  3. Tennessee
  4. West Virginia
  5. Wyoming

Venture Capital

The top states for venture capital are:

  1. Massachusetts
  2. California
  3. Utah
  4. Washington
  5. Colorado

The lowest are:

  1. Arkansas
  2. Alaska
  3. Hawaii
  4. Wyoming
  5. Iowa
  6. South Dakota

R&D Spending

The leaders in R&D spending are:

  1. Delaware
  2. Michigan
  3. California
  4. Connecticut
  5. Massachusetts

The states that spent the least on R&D include:

  1. Arkansas
  2. Wyoming
  3. Louisiana
  4. Alaska
  5. Mississippi

Academics

As for academics, the top states include:

  1. New Mexico
  2. Maryland
  3. Rhode Island
  4. Massachusetts
  5. Alabama

The lowest academic rankings were for:

  1. Louisiana
  2. Arkansas
  3. Delaware
  4. Wyoming
  5. Nevada

If you are a U.S. based company conducting R&D you may be eligible for the federal and/or state research tax credit. Please contact a Swanson Reed representative to find out further information.

California Companies Lead Nation in R&D Spending and Performance

hollywood 1246529 1920

According to a new report from the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, California spent $77 billion on self-funded business research and development (R&D), accounting for 30% of the total  $255 billion of R&D companies conducted and paid for in the United States in 2013.

California is up 5% on R&D spending from the last study performed five years ago. In fact, from 2008 to 2013, California’s R&D performance was growing at a quicker rate than its economy as a whole. This resulted in its ratio of business R&D to GDP to escalate from 2.8% to 3.5%.

Within California, the top two areas of self-funded business R&D performance include the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland area and the Los Angeles-Long Beach area. No single industry dominated in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area, but to no-one’s surprise, computer and electronics manufacturing reigned king in the San Jose-San Francisco- Oakland area.

California isn’t the only state paying big bucks when it comes to research and development. Interestingly enough, only five states make up over half of the total $255 billion spend. The other four include Massachusetts, Michigan, Texas and Washington.

The top ten business R&D performance states are:

  1. California – $77 billion
  2. Massachusetts – $14 billion
  3. Michigan – $14 billion
  4. Washington – $14 billion
  5. Texas – $13 billion
  6. Illinois- $12 billion
  7. New Jersey – $12 billion
  8. Pennsylvania – $10 billion
  9. New York – $9 billion
  10. Minnesota – $6 billion

If you’re a business that pays for and performs R&D in your state, contact us to find out what type of benefits you could receive in the form of tax credits. Click here to learn if your state offers an R&D tax credit on the state level.