PALO ALTO, Calif., July 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hesai Technology (Nasdaq: HSAI), a global leader in lidar solutions, announces today that it will supply its advanced JT series lidar sensors to support the deployment of next-generation autonomous farming robots for Agtonomy and Alpha Werke. These partnerships bring together leading innovators in agricultural autonomy and robotics perception, accelerating the transformation of traditional farming to become smarter, more efficient, and more sustainable.
Lidar: The Eyes of AI "Farming Agents"
As a foundational sector of the global economy, farming sustains not only food systems but entire supply chains and communities—yet it now faces unprecedented challenges. Labor shortages are intensifying, operational costs are climbing, and climate unpredictability is making it harder than ever to ensure consistent yields. Farmers are under pressure to do more with less. The future of farming depends on physical AI—intelligent, connected autonomous farming robots that can work around the clock and adapt to complex environments.
At the heart of this transformation is lidar—a core sensing component that acts as the eyes of AI "farming agents", enabling autonomous farming robots the spatial awareness they need to safely and accurately perform repetitive, labor-intensive tasks such as mowing, spraying, weeding, and hauling.
Hesai's JT series—mini hemispherical 3D lidar sensors are designed with robotics applications in mind. They combine powerful environmental perception with a compact, robust design that's ideal for autonomous farming.
- Powerful perception: With an ultra-wide field of view covering the equivalent of two football fields, JT series sensors capture rich 3D data in real time. This enables AI systems to analyze crop loads, terrain, and surroundings with unmatched perception. The JT series also has a minimum detection range of 0 meters, enabling autonomous farming robots to perform close-range maneuvers with zero blind spots.
- Compact size: Compared to similar products, the JT series is 70% smaller in volume. Its compact design allows for embedded installation on a wide range of autonomous farming robots, with a surface height of less than 30 mm. Whether it's a ground-hugging weeding robot or a high-clearance spraying robot, JT series lidar can fit seamlessly.
- Robust reliability: Because lidar actively emits laser light, it is not affected by ambient lighting conditions. This makes JT series lidar highly reliable across farming applications in challenging environments, at any time of day or night. JT sensors have also passed rigorous reliability tests—including IPX6 waterproofing, vibration and shock resistance, UV aging, and extreme temperature cycling—ensuring they stand up to the harshest farming environments.
What the Leaders Are Saying
Agtonomy, headquartered in California, is a leading agricultural technology company specializing in autonomous farming solutions. Agtonomy's groundbreaking software for autonomous farming robots integrated with Hesai's JT128 lidar enables farmers to easily monitor live progress, automate work, and manage fleets of vehicles.
"The seamless integration of Hesai's lidar into Agtonomy-enabled tractors has significantly enhanced precision automation in agriculture. Hesai's sensors provide reliable navigation, even in the most challenging conditions. Paired with our software, they allow us to automate numerous tasks—delivering an affordable and scalable solution for modern farms," says Tim Bucher, CEO and Co-Founder, Agtonomy.
Alpha Werke, based in Austria, is an innovative agricultural robotics company focused on enabling autonomy in the most challenging off-road environments. Its flagship solution TracPilot is integrated with Hesai's JT16 lidar, able to perceive complex terrain in real time and safely execute tasks like spraying and hauling in rugged conditions.
"Powered by Hesai's lidar, we're bringing autonomy to places GPS can't reach—dense forests, orchards, and solar farms. Its reliability and precision makes Hesai an ideal partner for farming robots where safety, efficiency, and robust performance matter most," says Patrick Neuhauser, CEO of Alpha Werke.
Empowering the Future of Farming, One Sensor at a Time
As the global agriculture industry faces increasing pressure such as labor shortages and rising costs, AI automation is poised to play a critical role. As of June 2025, Hesai has already delivered over 100,000 JT lidar units. Through its cutting-edge lidar sensors designed for autonomous farming robots, Hesai is committed to working hand-in-hand with agricultural innovators to enable the next revolution in autonomous farming, meeting the evolving demands of this multi-billion-dollar market.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Hesai's JT Series 3D Lidar Revolutionizes the Future of Autonomous Farming
Transaction Enhances MRO Scale, AOG Readiness, and Lubricants Market Leadership
ARLINGTON, Texas, Jan. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- GracoRoberts (gracoroberts.com) today announced the acquisition of Sky Mart (skymart.aero) to advance its international footprint in Latin America, leveraging the company's corporate headquarters in Miami as a gateway to the aerospace-rich Latin American region. The acquisition significantly bolsters GracoRoberts' reach into the $6.5B Latin American MRO market, scales its AOG capability, and offers its customers access to a considerable breadth of in-stock lubricants, amplifying the acquirer's already sound position as the largest, fastest, and most technically focused aerospace specialty chemicals distributor in the world.
The addition of Sky Mart to the GracoRoberts' portfolio expands its technical sales coverage throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, Florida, and portions of the US, while adding an additional 42,000 square feet of fulfillment centers in Miami, FL, San Antonio, TX, and Indianapolis, IN, and offering a rich stocking position for oils, greases, and fluids. Additionally, Sky Mart customers will benefit from access to GracoRoberts' extensive breadth of adhesives, composites, paints and coatings, a robust ecommerce presence for immediate product access, and a global technical sales team. These enhancements, coupled with a mutual focus on world-class quality, will add meaningful value to both companies' customer and supplier partners.
Jason Caldwell, President and CEO of GracoRoberts, commented on the acquisition. "We are thrilled to welcome the team from Sky Mart to the GracoRoberts' family of companies. This partnership strengthens our ability to serve the global aerospace community, especially in the important Latin America and Miami markets, with an enhanced stocking position, broader product offerings, and a scalable bolt-on ecommerce presence and AOG platform for an industry that requires speed and dependability."
Juan Gregorio Robbin, Co-Founder and President of Sky Mart, also commented on the integration, and the decision to partner with GracoRoberts after four decades of family-owned operation. "At Sky Mart, our operating philosophy is simple and unwavering: stock the right products, deliver exceptional service, and get it right the first time. This guiding principle has earned us the trust of a loyal Latin and North American customer base, and by joining the GracoRoberts' family, we can deliver even more value to our customers."
Ana Maria Robbin, Co-Owner and Executive Vice President of Sky Mart, offered her perspective on the acquisition. "2025 marked Sky Mart's 40th year in a business founded by our parents – our heroes – Gregorio and Lucy Robbin. They raised us to believe in the power of a vision, endless determination, and a deep spirit of service that defines our culture today, and I see these qualities in the team at GracoRoberts. I know the Sky Mart legacy will be upheld with care and purpose."
The leaders of both companies will collaborate to deliver a seamless, customer-focused transition that preserves each organization's culture and ensures no disruption to the business.
The acquisition of Sky Mart is supported by CM Equity Partners, the private equity sponsor of GracoRoberts and long-standing partner to its Executive Leadership Team (ELT). Under the leadership of President and CEO Jason Caldwell, the GracoRoberts ELT has significantly expanded the company's global footprint and accelerated its digital growth strategy through six acquisitions over the past seven years – E.V. Roberts, Able Aerospace Adhesives, Silmid, SkyGeek, Pacific Coast Composites, and now Sky Mart – each enhancing value for its enterprise partners and the broader aerospace industry.
About GracoRoberts
Headquartered in Arlington, TX, GracoRoberts (www.gracoroberts.com) is the single largest, fastest, and most technically focused specialty chemicals distributor to serve the global aerospace market and is fully AS, ISO, and CMMC II certified. We serve the aerospace OEM, MRO, and defense segments, composites, electronics, and other advanced manufacturing industries. As a family of brands including Silmid, SkyGeek, and Pacific Coast Composites, we are authorized to distribute 3M, Airtech, Aeroshell, AkzoNobel, Eastman, Henkel, Hexcel, Huntsman, Isovolta, Momentive, PPG, Resin Formulators, Royco, Scott Bader, Sika, American Fiber & Finishing, Armite Lubricants, Arrow Solutions, B&J Rubber Products, Castrol, Chemetall, Contec, Deb Stoko, ITW Performance Polymers, Mask-Off, Master Fluid Solutions, Permabond, Reabrook Ltd, Rocol, Royal Adhesives, Socomore, and Zip-Chem, and can source thousands of other providers upon request. We differentiate by adding value: services include world-class ecommerce available through three websites (www.skygeek.com, www.silmid.com, and www.gracoroberts.com), global distribution, custom formulation, specialty packaging, vendor managed inventory, intermix and kitting services, defense logistics and compliance, export management services, and an on-staff Chemist, lab, and testing facility. GracoRoberts prides itself in delivering superior engineered materials with impeccable support to thousands of customers from more than 65 countries around the globe.
About Sky Mart
Headquartered in Miami, FL and founded in 1985 by Gregorio and Lucy Robbin with Co-Founder and President Juan Gregorio Robbin, Sky Mart (www.skymart.aero) has grown into an industry leading and well-recognized aerospace chemical, lubricant and specialty fluids stocking distributor. Sky Mart is now a second-generation Robbin family business serving thousands of customers across Latin America and North America. With over 40 years of global distribution experience, the company's philosophy is straight forward: stock the products, quote quickly, and offer fast, accurate, and on-time shipping. Today Sky Mart continues to invest in online and EDI trading platforms, and offers reliable and effective after-hours AOG service for the airline, MRO, and other aviation communities.
About CM Equity Partners
CM Equity Partners (www.cmequity.com), based in New York, NY, provides capital to the Federal services and aerospace and defense industries. For 30 years, CMEP has partnered with management teams to build enduring value by leveraging its industry knowledge, relationships, operating experience, and its corporate finance, M&A, and private equity expertise. CMEP employs an active and collaborative management approach, developing long-term strategic plans and guiding decisions on re-investment of profits to grow and broaden a company's revenue base and capabilities. CMEP's investments are structured with flexibility across a broad spectrum of the capital structure, including equity, structured equity, and mezzanine debt.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
GracoRoberts Acquires Sky Mart to Accelerate Latin American Expansion, Anchored by Miami Hub
