Johnny Autoseed
Soil and Circuits
What if robots could grow food in your backyard?
Featured Technologies
Planting Robots Where Food Deserts Bloom
Millions of people lack access to fresh food.
Imagine if your neighborhood had a fully automated food system? Seed to harvest, harvest to kitchen, kitchen to table.
Less labor. Built for everyone.
That's the vision of
Johnny Autoseed
Estimates use public and company-reported data and have not been independently verified. Do your own research. View the full data disclaimer.
Just the facts, centered on the numbers.
Johnny Autoseed is a research concept, not a vendor. Treat this as a quick reference for current estimates, lead times, and what a hands-on build involves.
System Specifications & Economics
| Metric | Data / Estimate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Total System Cost | $15,000 – $26,000 | Est. for Hardware + Robot. (FarmBot XL: ~$5k | Mobile ALOHA: ~$20k+) |
| Availability | Open Source / DIY | Not for sale. No reservations. You must build it yourself. |
| Lead Time | 3 – 6 Months | Time to source parts, print 3D components, and assemble. |
| Labor Inputs | ~2 Hrs / Week | Mostly system monitoring & refilling seed/water tanks. |
Operational Metrics
- Yield
Targets 100% of annual vegetable needs for 3–4 adults.
Basis: FarmBot Genesis XL (18m² growing area) projected yield of ~400+ cups of vegetables per month.
- Electricity
~$10.00 / mo (at $0.12/kWh)
Bed Automation: ~35 kWh/mo (control electronics + motors). Mobile Robot: ~48 kWh/mo (daily charge of 1.6kWh battery).
- Water Usage
-90% Reduction vs. traditional gardening.
Precision drip irrigation injects water directly at the root zone (no sprinkler evaporation).
Path to Ownership
- Bed Automation (Available Now)
Purchase a FarmBot Genesis XL (~$4,995).
Lead Time: Typically ships in ~2 weeks (stock dependent).
Action: Install raised beds and the gantry while you wait on other parts.
- Mobile Robotics (Research Phase)
Build a Mobile ALOHA clone (~$32k parts list).
Status: High technical barrier. Requires Python/ROS knowledge.
Action: Source parts via Trossen Robotics or similar distributors when ready.
Why this works better
- Clarity: Keeps expectations clear that this is a DIY research path, not a checkout page.
- Scalability: Separates the easier garden path (FarmBot) from the harder robotics path (Aloha) so you can start small.
This video walks through the platform referenced for the harvest and kitchen track.
How the concept steps from pilot to movement
One automation stack threads through different audiences, starting with showcase installs, spreading through coordinated neighborhoods, and landing in food deserts as shared infrastructure.
First Adopters
Enthusiast households de-risk the technology. They absorb early costs, surface real-world friction, and fund R&D through consumer demand.
- Pay premium for cutting-edge automation
- Prove reliability, push firmware updates, share data
- Drive down price curves for future cohorts
Neighborhood Networks
Once proof points exist, coordinated blocks unlock logistics synergies and the CSA model.
- Pool gardens, share harvest logistics
- Create micro-CSA within walking distance
- Generate data for grant proposals and pilot programs
Food Desert Communities
Once costs drop and logistics are proven, systems reach underserved areas via grants, co-ops, or municipal partnerships.
- Access fresh produce without car dependency
- Reduce reliance on dollar stores and fast food
- Strengthen local supply chain resilience
How Johnny Autoseed Works
This concept combines two existing technologies. FarmBot provides precision planting and watering. Mobile ALOHA-inspired robots handle harvest and prep. Together, they could automate local food production from seed to table.
Garden Automation
CNC gantry systems automatically tend raised garden beds
Mobile Harvest
Bimanual robots navigate between garden and kitchen
Food Preparation
Kitchen-ready assistance for washing, sorting, and meal prep
FarmBot Lineage
- CNC gantry system with sub-millimeter precision
- Automated drip irrigation per plant
- Camera-guided pest detection
- 8+ years, thousands of installations
Mobile ALOHA Influence
- Bimanual manipulation (two arms)
- Learn-by-demonstration training
- Kitchen tasks from prep to cooking
- Stanford-backed household autonomy
Humanoid Robots
- Full-body humanoid manipulation
- Natural language interaction
- Complex multi-step task execution
- Emerging commercial applications
Tiny Helpers
- Solar-powered autonomous weeding
- Outdoor rugged design
- Simple mechanical actuation
- Crowdfunded proof of concept
Technology Foundations
FarmBot Genesis XL
FarmBot demonstrates how precise, open hardware can automate planting and watering on the homestead scale.
Pricing as of October 2025
See system specs →
FarmBot remains the template for Johnny Autoseed's bed management. The full bill of materials, assembly guides, and software are freely available for adaptation.
Visit FarmBot Website →Mobile ALOHA Platform
Mobile ALOHA shows how low-cost manipulators can assist in kitchens, packing, and post-harvest handling.
Pricing as of October 2025
See system specs →
Johnny Autoseed leans on Mobile ALOHA's research to imagine autonomous harvest carts and cooperative kitchens that don't require million-dollar robots.
Read Research Paper →Tertill Weeder Bot (Kickstarter)
Solar-powered garden rover from Franklin Robotics that showed backyard weeding automation could ship to consumers before the company wound down.
Campaign completed in 2017
Production ended after Kickstarter backers received units
See system specs →
Tertill used basic height sensors and a spinning trimmer to clip emerging weeds. We keep it as a proof point that compact robots can handle real gardens even if the product is no longer available.
Visit Tertill Site →Figure AI Humanoid
Figure 03 represents the latest in humanoid robotics with advanced AI capabilities, designed for both commercial and home environments.
Company data as of September 2025
Commercial pricing not yet publicly available
See system specs →
Figure AI secured $1B+ in Series C funding at $39B valuation. Their Helix AI platform enables learning from human demonstration, with enhanced tactile sensing and natural language capabilities for household and industrial tasks.
Visit Figure AI Website →Estimates use public and company-reported data and have not been independently verified. Do your own research. View the full data disclaimer.
System Economics
Research Snapshot
Current working assumptions from an open build. DIY first, no checkout page.
What it costs right now
FarmBot Genesis XL
- Cost
- ~$4,995
- Availability
- In Stock
- Lead Time
- Around 2 weeks
- Labor
- ~1 hr/wk
Mobile ALOHA
- Cost
- ~$32,000
- Availability
- DIY Build Only
- Lead Time
- 3-6 Months
- Labor
- R&D Phase
What it consumes
Research concept, not a storefront
No reservations yet. Johnny Autoseed documents DIY paths for autonomous food systems. If you want to experiment now, purchase the subsystems directly and build at your own pace.
Bed Automation
Purchase a FarmBot Genesis XL directly. Ships in ~2 weeks.
Visit farm.botMobile Robotics
Build a Mobile ALOHA clone (~$32k parts). Requires Python/ROS knowledge.
View Open Source PlansData based on farm.bot specifications and Mobile ALOHA open-source documentation. View full disclaimer.
Why This Matters
Estimates use public and company-reported data and have not been independently verified. Do your own research. View the full data disclaimer.
Local Food Security
Turn unused land into food production. Less reliance on distant supply chains. More control over what you eat and where it comes from.
As technology improves and costs decrease, automated local food systems could become accessible to everyone.
Space Transformation
Any unused land could produce food. Backyards, empty lots, rooftops, community spaces. Automation makes it possible without heavy labor.
From unproductive space to fresh food source. From isolated plots to connected local food networks.
Open Technology Foundation
Built on FarmBot and Mobile ALOHA research. The technology remains accessible. What works at any scale uses the same accessible open technology.
When technology is open and replicable, anyone can adapt it to their needs and context.
Community Learning Loop
Every deployment feeds back sensor data, crop results, and maintenance logs so the next neighborhood deployment launches smarter.
Publishing learnings openly keeps costs falling and accelerates access for underserved communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Johnny Autoseed, automated farming, and getting started.
Is Johnny Autoseed a real product I can buy?
Can I invest or preorder?
Why share unfinished ideas?
Where did the budget numbers come from?
What makes this different from a traditional farm?
Essential Reading & Resources
Essential reading & resources
Curated materials for builders, researchers, and organizers exploring automated food production.
- USDA Food Access Research Atlas
- "The Good Food Revolution"ISBN: 978-1592407668
- Open Food Network
Stay in the Loop
Occasional notes on what we're learning, building, and figuring out along the way. No spam, just field notes from the garden.
Project Status & Transparency
Publishing research as we architect the next build phase
Johnny Autoseed is an educational exploration actively mapping the R&D path toward future prototypes. We're documenting how proven technologies like FarmBot and Mobile ALOHA converge, building a roadmap, competitive landscape, and market analysis while we line up partnerships. Expect research notes, reference material, and honest tradeoffs rather than release dates.
What This Means
- No physical prototype exists yet; everything here is conceptual research
- No public release timeline is planned until funding and partners align
- The site prioritizes transparency, data disclaimers, and realistic budgets
- Updates focus on audits, documentation, and invitations to collaborate
Why Share This?
Food insecurity is critical, and sharing what we learn accelerates solutions. By documenting the concept while it is paused, we aim to:
- Inspire builders working on similar challenges
- Demonstrate convergence opportunities across robotics and agriculture
- Contribute honest data, budgets, and messaging to the broader innovation dialogue
For Builders
Prototype opportunities remain open-ended. Email info@johnnyautoseed.com if you're inspired to explore alongside us:
- Start with FarmBot or similar kits in your maker space
- Document and share your adaptations and research notes
- Prioritize voices from affected communities when evaluating impact
- Share learnings with the ecosystem so others can build on them
Data Disclaimer
All estimates on this site draw from publicly available datasets, industry research, and information published by the companies referenced. We have not experimentally or independently verified these numbers.
Treat every figure as directional context, verify details with primary sources, and conduct your own research before making decisions or financial commitments.