FIRA USA 2022: first edition in Fresno
The first FIRA USA ran in Fresno, California, on 18–20 October 2022, combining a robotics conference and exhibition with a field demonstration day.
18–20 October 2022, Fresno Convention Center / Fresno State University, Fresno, California, United States
The first FIRA USA took place in Fresno, California, on 18–20 October 2022, pairing a robotics conference and exhibition with a field demonstration day.
What happened at FIRA USA 2022
Fresno hosted the inaugural FIRA USA from 18 to 20 October 2022. GOFAR, Western Growers and UC ANR organised the event, which combined a conference and exhibition at the Fresno Convention Center with a demonstration day at Fresno State University. It was a separate American event, distinct from World FIRA in France, and centred on agricultural automation, particularly for specialty crops.
Robots raise different questions from conventional tractors, and the 2022 programme reflected that. Beyond work rate, attention turned to obstacle detection, supervision, setup time, power supply and how a machine copes with unusual situations. Weeding robots also had to deal with row spacing, plant recognition and changing field conditions. The demonstration day showed how machines worked under set conditions.
Growers weighing automation met robot makers, start-ups, distributors, integrators, researchers and advisers. Practical questions concerned commissioning, software updates, diagnostics and support during the season. A robot can take over one task while adding new work in configuration and supervision. Shared ownership or a service model could suit farms too small to justify buying outright.
The useful takeaway from Fresno was a clear picture of what a given machine does, where its limits lie and which jobs still need a person. That gave farms a basis for comparing prototypes and market-ready products against a specific problem, and for planning a pilot with acceptance criteria and a log of operator interventions.
Highlights
- Inaugural US edition, 18–20 October 2022
- Conference in Fresno plus a demo day at Fresno State University
- Automation for specialty crops in focus
Agricultural events 2022
