Automating agriculture: Experimentation, innovation keys to Moses Lake company’s business in evolving apple industry

MOSES LAKE — Automated Ag owner JJ Dagorret said the theory behind the equipment his company sells is very simple. “Extremely simple, almost like a lawn mower or a log splitter type of thing,” he said. What the equipment is designed to do doesn’t sound that simple. Named the Bandit, the machine must provide a stable platform for the workers picking apples or pears, with platforms at different levels for different sections of the tree. An onboard lift allows the bin to follow the pickers, and to be deposited on the ground when it’s full. It has to stay level on the often-bumpy ground of the orchard, and it’s got onboard controls and auto steering capability.