Growing cannabis at home is a privilege some people in legal weed states don’t even have. While everyone wishes for a backyard with optimal sunlight for an outdoor grow to thrive, that is not a reality. Many are forced to erect cultivation tents in basements, garages, and even their living rooms.
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Those living in metropolitan cities often don’t have that kind of space, though. This crowd may think they are out of luck when it comes to home grows, but Boundless seeks to solve that problem. The Boundless Robotics Annaboto is a hydroponic, all-in-one cultivation robot that takes up the space of a floor lamp.
Founder and CEO Carl Palme has been interested in robotics since seeing Short Circuit as a kid and has been set on finding his Johnny 5 since. The Annaboto may not be “Aliiiive” like that fictional imagining from the 1980s, but it does occupy a worthy space in the home-growing world.
“We designed it with city dwellers in mind because they may not have access to a yard or a basement, and therefore, the system will need to live in close proximity to them,” Palme said to GreenState about the Annaboto.
After listening to customer feedback, the team soon learned that the device served another noble purpose: normalization.
“We have learned from our customers that they also want to use Annaboto as a platform to tell their friends and family about their choice to use cannabis,” Palme said. “The product is beautiful and only helps to bring to light how beautiful the plant actually is.”
All about the Annaboto
The Annaboto has a minimal, clean aesthetic, and grows one plant per cycle. It features a water tank and grow unit as its base. Three metal poles emerge to hold up a cream-colored lampshade. Each comes with a nutrient cartridge that clicks into the water tank, feeding the plant for one growth cycle. This and the seed pod have to be replaced after each grow.
After setup, it is as simple as topping off the water and watching the plant thrive. The machine will take photos every 15 minutes during the cycle with a 5 MP camera. The photos are sent to an AI algorithm that analyzes plant health and identifies potential red flags. It promises a set-it-and-forget-it type growing experience that ends with around two to three ounces of pesticide-free pot.
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Customer data shows an average of two to three ounces of dried, trimmed flower every 90 to 120 days with Annaboto. Palme reports that many have found this was enough for their personal consumption and report growing peppers between weed harvests. Boundless is still hoping to improve the nutrient cartridge to expand harvests.
“Given the amount of data we are collecting and the tests we are doing in conjunction with our customers, we hope to have improved recipes that will provide even more flower to our customers,” Palme said.
Annaboto cannabis grow robot champions normalization
Like most technology, this cannabis grow robot may not be for everyone. Cultivators who make a fine-tuned nutrient recipe will likely prefer to keep that work in-house. Anyone without a regular wifi connection or ethernet hookup may also be out of luck with this one. However, the Annaboto is ideal for those with a solid internet connection who would like most of the process handled for them.
Not only do the people who created Annaboto love robotics, they hope to make homegrown cannabis more accessible. The result is a machine that medical patients, tech junkies, and home grow enthusiasts will love equally. After twenty years immersed in robotics, Palme is confident that people will appreciate what the machine has to offer for a $.
“This is the perfect companion for anyone who wants to effortlessly grow cannabis at home,” he concluded.
