Ruggedize conference unites farm robotics and AI innovators to Salinas.

Reservoir Farms is hosting Ruggedize, a two-day deep tech conference, focused on robotics, artificial intelligence and the engineering challenges of deploying technology in real-world farms.

Reservoir Farms is a 40-acre working agricultural campus in Salinas, designed to give technology companies access to real fields for testing and development.

The inaugural conference brings together engineers, startup founders, researchers and agricultural industry leaders to examine how “rugged” physical AI can move from laboratory prototypes into commercial farm operations.

Unlike traditional technology conferences, Ruggedize organizers say they will center on the practical problems that machines encounter in the field: dust, heat, vibration, changing light, unpredictable terrain, biological variability and unreliable connectivity.

Speakers represent both the AI and agriculture industries and include Paige Bailey from Google DeepMind; Engineer and Director Mathew Potter from John Deere; and Steven Mirskley, director of digital agriculture at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Representatives from agricultural robotics companies are also expected to attend, including Carbon Robotics, Verdant Robotics, Bonsai Robotics and Orchard Robotics, to name a few.

Reservoir Farms announced a $10 million, three-year research and development partnership with John Deere, aimed at accelerating the development and commercialization of rugged AI technologies for high-value crops.

The two-day conference runs Wednesday-Thursday, Aug. 26-27 from 9am-7pm. A livestream is also available on YouTube.