At this year’s Annual Field Day, Kelly Hills unveiled **SpraySense**, a new autonomous application intelligence system born from its accelerator program, *The Forge*. The platform marks a significant step in precision agriculture, merging AI-driven recommendations with autonomous execution to tackle one of farming’s long-standing challenges: determining the optimal timing for fungicide application.
The project began as a collaboration among leading ag and drone tech firms—Yamaha Precision Agriculture, Pyka, Precision AI, Scanit Technologies, Heinen Brothers Agra Services, and Taranis—all part of *The Forge*’s inaugural 2025 cohort. Initially focused on corn and soybeans, the group sought to refine fungicide timing using real-time data. What emerged, however, was a fully integrated system that not only advises on *when* and *where* to spray but also automates the process through partnerships with autonomous spray providers.
SpraySense synthesizes aerial imagery, environmental conditions, disease risk models, and agronomic insights to generate actionable recommendations. Unlike traditional advisory tools, it bridges the gap between data and execution by connecting directly with autonomous spray systems from Pyka and Yamaha. This closed-loop approach aims to minimize delays between detecting disease pressure and deploying targeted treatments.
Lukas Koch, CEO of Kelly Hills, emphasized that the product wasn’t the original goal. “We were trying to solve a timing and location problem,” he said. “But the chemistry within the cohort led to something far more impactful—a system that could redefine how inputs are applied.”
While SpraySense launches with a focus on fungicides, its modular design allows for expansion into other inputs, including fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides. Future iterations may incorporate soil modeling and digital twin technology, further enhancing its precision and sustainability benefits.
The implications extend beyond efficiency. By reducing unnecessary applications and optimizing resource use, SpraySense aligns with broader industry shifts toward data-driven, sustainable farming. For growers and service providers, it offers a hands-free solution that could lower costs, improve yields, and minimize environmental impact—all while adapting to different application methods.
As autonomous systems gain traction in agriculture, SpraySense represents a critical evolution: not just smarter tools, but a seamless integration of insight and action. With plans to expand its capabilities, Kelly Hills is positioning the platform as a cornerstone of next-generation crop protection.