Fruit harvesting robot

Thanks to a combination of low-cost sensors and computer observation, 'farmer robots' are increasingly capable of independently orientating and carrying out complex tasks such as hoeing and planting. Tree, check soil and even harvest fruits and crops.

>>> Robot helps farmers pick strawberries

WP5 bell pepper harvesting robot being tested in the Netherlands is an example. This robot can pick up chili in the greenhouse thanks to the robotic arm equipped with a rubber plier, a camera for color images, a camera for 3D images and a scissors. Robotic arms attached to the apparatus can move up and down along with lights, an air compressor, electronic control devices, sensors and computers to operate all operations. The system was tested in April at a 1.4-hectare bell pepper greenhouse.

Photo: Singularity Hub

The researchers controlled the robot to perform the task at a slow pace and focused on checking the function of identifying and locating ripe fruits, identifying obstacles, determining how to approach and harvest fruits. The results show that robots automatically harvest ripe fruits with high accuracy.

Researchers estimate that if WP5 robots harvest at a rate of 6 seconds per fruit, at a price of less than 195,000 euros and a five-year term, users will have a profit. However, WP5 robots are being improved to suit the market, including improving the ability to operate in a non-greenhouse environment, harvesting softer fruits (such as tomatoes) in combination. other services such as monitoring, planting and branching to prevent tree breakage and falling.

Another highly appreciated fruit-harvesting robot model is Wall-Ye of French inventor Christophe Millot. Wall-Ye has four wheels, two arms and 6 cameras. It works based on global positioning technology (GPS), artificial intelligence and movement diagrams in the vineyard. It can identify tree characteristics, record and store each tree's data, control camera and robotic arms to use the necessary gardening tools. Therefore, Wall-Ye can automatically run around the vineyard to check the soil, cut off unnecessary branches, monitor the health of the plant and harvest grapes with a capacity of 600 roots per day.