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Hitch’s autonomous Farming Robot is the answer to the declining agricultural industry

Hitch's Farming Robot harvesting grapes while working on a vineyard.

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The farming industry was critical in the success and growth of our nation and today is still a keystone part of the American economy. Since the founding of the United States in 1776, farming has been considered a dominant force in providing American citizens with employment and food. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, almost half of the American population was employed in agriculture. However, this number has sharply declined.

The Agricultural industry employed less than 1% of the American workforce in 2018. With the U.S. population steadily increasing, the agriculture sector is in need of more laborers and workers to keep up with the demand for food and harvesting of other necessities.

One of the most booming sub-industries in the agricultural field is cannabis and hemp. Cannabis-based products have become a hot commodity because of their wide array of uses. Everything from industrial-strength hemp rope to Cannabidiol (CBD) products have taken over as some of the most popular items to buy.

CBD has boomed since its initial introduction into the medical industry in 2018 after its legalization due to the passing of the U.S. Farm Bill that allowed the product to be used medically and recreationally. CBD products are used by the world’s biggest athletes, and also by regular citizens who suffer from common medical issues like anxiety and depression. Forbes suggests that the CBD industry could be worth $20 billion by 2024.

Hitch’s Farming Robot harvesting grapes while working on a vineyard.

California-based Hitch Robotics is one of the companies aiming to assist the industry with its lack of workers. The company has developed a fully-autonomous and solar-powered farming robot that is geared toward assisting in the harvesting of large fields of cannabis. With the development of autonomous machines like Hitch’s farming robot that can work around the clock without human interference, the workforce may not need to grow.

Hitch notes that the continuing decline in the agricultural workforce has cost the U.S. economy $3.1 billion annually in the production of crops. With Hitch, farms can see a 30% increase in labor productivity, which could save California, the state with the biggest Ag industry, around $1.7 billion.

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Hitch’s fully-autonomous product will assist in the harvesting of crops and plants through a fully-computerized method of navigation. The robot will use Artificial Intelligence, High Precision GPS systems, various cameras and sensors to navigate through any crop field it is meant to be utilized for.

The robot also has three different “hitches” to assist with different tasks: The Transport Hitch, the Harvest Hitch, and the Command Hitch. The Transport Hitch can be used for transporting crops and plants to other locations. The Harvest Hitch is pulled by a series of autonomous vehicles and will accurately identify and then pick and pack ripe produce or crops, place them in a bin and transport them to the appropriate location. The Command Hitch allows a series of autonomous vehicles to be operated through a solar-powered trailer with automated battery swaps.

The versatility of the Hitch Farming Robot could revolutionize the modern agricultural industry as we know it. The company has raised $386,600 of its $2,000,000 goal for the current investment round and is backed by a global early-stage venture fund, focused on Deep Tech and enterprise solutions. Hitch has requested the help of Teslarati to secure the rest of the needed funding to continue the development of its product.

Hitch has already garnered the attention of many farms, and two have submitted pre-orders, one is a publicly-traded cannabis company, Grown Rogue, and another is 130-year old specialty farm, HMC Farms. Combined, they have pre-ordered 500 bots totaling $26.8 million in revenue for Hitch.

For as little as $1,000 today, you can become a shareholder revolutionizing and invigorating the agricultural industry.

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Joey has been a journalist covering electric mobility at TESLARATI since August 2019. In his spare time, Joey is playing golf, watching MMA, or cheering on any of his favorite sports teams, including the Baltimore Ravens and Orioles, Miami Heat, Washington Capitals, and Penn State Nittany Lions. You can get in touch with joey at joey@teslarati.com. He is also on X @KlenderJoey. If you're looking for great Tesla accessories, check out shop.teslarati.com

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Lifestyle

Tesla Cybertruck takes a bump from epic failing Dodge Charger

The Cybertruck seemed unharmed by the charging Charger.

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Credit: Hammer_of_something/Reddit

There comes a time in a driver’s life when one is faced with one’s limitations. For the driver of a Dodge Charger, this time came when he lost control and crashed into a Tesla Cybertruck–an absolute epic fail. 

A video of the rather unfortunate incident was shared on the r/TeslaLounge subreddit.

Charging Charger Fails

As could be seen in the video, which was posted on the subreddit by Model Y owner u/Hammer_of_something, a group of teens in a Dodge Charger decided to do some burnouts at a Tesla Supercharger. Unfortunately, the driver of the Charger failed in his burnout or donut attempt, resulting in the mopar sedan going over a curb and bumping a charging Cybertruck.

Ironically, the Dodge Charger seemed to have been parked at a Supercharger stall before its driver decided to perform the failed stunt. This suggests that the vehicle was likely ICE-ing a charging stall before it had its epic fail moment. Amusingly enough, the subreddit member noted that the Cybertruck did not seem like it took any damage at all despite its bump. The Charger, however, seemed like it ran into some trouble after crashing into the truck.

Alleged Aftermath

As per the the r/TeslaLounge subreddit member, the Cybertruck owner came rushing out to his vehicle after the Dodge Charger crashed into it. The Model Y owner then sent over the full video of the incident, which clearly showed the Charger attempting a burnout, failing, and bumping into the Cybertruck. The Cybertruck owner likely appreciated the video, in part because it showed the driver of the Dodge Charger absolutely freaking out after the incident.

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The Cybertruck is not an impregnable vehicle, but it can take bumps pretty well thanks to its thick stainless steel body. Based on this video, it appears that the Cybertruck can even take bumps from a charging Charger, all while chilling and charging at a Supercharger. As for the teens in the Dodge, they likely had to provide a long explanation to authorities after the incident, since the cops were called to the location.

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Anti-Elon Musk group crushes Tesla Model 3 with Sherman tank–with unexpected results

Ironically enough, the group’s video ended up highlighting something very positive for Tesla.

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Credit: Led By Donkeys/X

Anti-Elon Musk protesters and critics tend to show their disdain for the CEO in various ways, but a recent video from political action group Led By Donkeys definitely takes the cake when it comes to creativity.

Ironially enough, the group’s video also ended up highlighting something very positive for Tesla.

Tank vs. Tesla

In its video, Led By Donkeys featured Ken Turner, a 98-year-old veteran who served in the British army during World War II. The veteran stated that Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, is “using his immense power to support the far-right in Europe, and his money comes from Tesla cars.” 

He also noted that he had a message for the Tesla CEO: “We’ve crushed fascism before and we’ll crush it again.” To emphasize his point, the veteran proceeded to drive a Sherman tank over a blue Tesla Model 3 sedan, which, of course, had a plate that read “Fascism.” 

The heavy tank crushed the Model 3’s glass roof and windows, much to the delight of Led By Donkeys’ commenters on its official YouTube channel. But at the end of it all, the aftermath of the anti-Elon Musk demonstration ended up showcasing something positive for the electric vehicle maker.

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Tesla Model 3 Tanks the Tank?

As could be seen from the wreckage of the Tesla Model 3 after its Sherman encounter, only the glass roof and windows of the all-electric sedan were crushed. Looking at the wreckage of the Model 3, it seemed like its doors could still be opened, and everything on its lower section looked intact.

Considering that a standard M4 Sherman weighs about 66,800 to 84,000 pounds, the Model 3 actually weathered the tank’s assault really well. Granted, the vehicle’s suspension height before the political action group’s demonstration suggests that the Model 3’s high voltage battery had been removed beforehand. But even if it hadn’t been taken off, it seemed like the vehicle’s battery would have survived the heavy ordeal without much incident.

This was highlighted in comments from users on social media platform X, many of whom noted that a person in the Model 3 could very well have survived the ordeal with the Sherman. And that, ultimately, just speaks to the safety of Tesla’s vehicles. There is a reason why Teslas consistently rank among the safest cars on the road, after all.

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Tesla Model 3 driver is using FSD to travel to Mt. Everest Base Camp

The ambitious, nearly 4,000-kilometer (2,485-mile) Tesla FSD journey is being livestreamed on Chinese social media.

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Credit: Douyin 老高懂电车

Count on Tesla drivers in China to push Full Self Driving (FSD) as far as it could go. As could be seen in videos posted on Chinese social media, a brave Model 3 owner is currently going on an epic journey from Henan Province to the base camp of Mt. Everest on FSD.

Recent posts from the Model 3 driver suggest that the ambitious destination may be within reach.

Epic FSD Journey

As noted by Tesla owner-enthusiast Aaron Li, the journey from Henan Province to the base camp of Mt. Everest spans almost 4,000 kilometers (2,485 miles). The journey itself is epic, with stunning vistas and roads that require some drivers to bring oxygen canisters with them. The fact that it is being done using FSD makes it extra impressive. 

Based on the videos that have been recently shared, the Model 3 running FSD seems to be nearing the Everest Base Camp. There seems to be a good chance that the Tesla Model 3 may reach its destination this Friday.

Previous Everest Trips

This is not the first time that a Tesla has driven to Mt. Everest’s base camp.  That would be a Model 3 that was driven in September 2020. That vehicle, which went on a long 5,500 km (3,400-mile) journey, was manually driven to its destination. 

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In April 2021, Tesla China announced that it has completed the buildout of 11 Supercharger stations in the picturesque route from Chengdu to Tingri. This route would allow drivers to reach the base camp of Mt. Everest. Sure enough, in July 2022, Tesla China shared a video of two Teslas—a Model X and Model Y—reaching the Everest base camp without any issues. Numerous other Tesla drivers have since taken on the long, picturesque journey.

Check out this Tesla Model Y’s journey to the Mt. Everest base camp in the video below.

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