So, What’s an Iron Goat?

Abstract.

So, what is an iron goat? In many respects, it‘s similar to a regular goat, the hardy domesticated animal noted for its frisky behavior and hearty appetite. Similarly, the iron goat roams, eating plants and producing "pellets." It has a digestive system that derives energy from the plants it consumes, so it will eat as long as there is something to eat. It‘s voracious, too, consum?ing 360 kg (800 lb) an hour. Sound great? But why would someone want one of these?

This goat is a harvesting machine-a computer-guided, self-powered pelleting harvester. It produces dry pelleted agricultural products directly from standing plants without human labor or fossil fuels.

While the initial market is forage for livestock fodder, this technology has applications in a variety of industries. The iron goat creates opportunities for commercial agricultural processes to coexist with the natural environment, reducing the need for segmented land management. Policy rules can be implemented in the software: "Eat this, not that," "Don‘t disturb the nesting birds," "Only harvest 10% of this area this year."