20237043939186

Vimaan Robotics, Inc. (VIMAAN) is pleased to respond to this RFA for NIFA's Meat and Poultry Processing Research and Innovation (MPPRI). VIMAAN is a small business entity for process and workflow automation, using artificial intelligence and machine learning for monitoring, tracking, and tracing of food, driving lower food cost, improved safety, and higher quality for diverse community needs.

VIMAAN's proposal aims to address vulnerabilities that small to medium-sized meat and poultry processors (SMMPPs) face from larger meat and poultry processors with similar automation technologies. VIMAAN will achieve this with minimal additional research to improve the supply chain resilience of SMMPPs. VIMAAN will work with two SMMPPs in underserved communities, addressing this RFA's priority area 1: monitoring and improving complex processes, aligning partially or fully with USDA strategic goals 2 to 5 for FY 2022-2026.

VIMAAN will demonstrate a sound approach to generate higher revenues and profitability for SMMPPs, reducing waste at scale, with field validation and commercialization of this innovation. VIMAAN will use its proprietary machine learning to read labels on meat packaging and also examine the seal integrity and quality on these packages to ensure that the quality is maintained at a high level. This will help reduce food-related contaminations, food wastage due to returns and destruction, and overall, allow small and medium meat processors to become more efficient and profitable.

VIMAAN has an active NSF SBIR Phase 2 award to use robots, computer vision, and AI to enhance inventory visibility, traceability, and product quality in warehouses. VIMAAN's technology is commercially live at several Fortune 500 companies, including food & beverage distribution, where VIMAAN's customers use the technology to highlight expiry date issues, damaged packaging, and incorrect order fulfillment (which can result in food condemnation).

Vimaan Robotics

NOT APPLICABLE

10.243 - Meat and Poultry Processing Research and Innovation

Institute of Food Production and Sustainability (IFPS) [USDA - NIFA]

Santa Clara, California 95054-2434 United States

Single Zip Code

NOT APPLICABLE

COVID-19 $1,000,000 (100%) percent of this Project Grant was funded by COVID-19 emergency acts including the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 02/14/25 to 08/14/25.