Robots Powered by AI Assist with Fruit Harvesting

A growing number of robots with artificial intelligence are assisting in the automation of certain agricultural jobs. Solutions for the selective picking of high-quality fruit have recently emerged as a result of this.

Robots that can participate in fruit harvesting activities have been developed by the Israeli start-up Tevel Aerobotics Technologies. Between March and May 2023, the machines assisted in the methodical selection of the best apples in Chile on behalf of the Unifrutti business.

The robot is designed to assess the fruit’s quality and choose just the desirable fruits for harvest. Artificial intelligence algorithms power these autonomous flying robots, allowing them to carefully choose the ripest fruit. They have the benefit of being able to function around-the-clock, taking the place of an increasingly in-demand staff. With the help of all the information gathered, it is possible to determine with great accuracy what is in each of the apple-filled bins before they are sent to the packaging facility. This includes the amount of fruit picked as well as its weight, ripeness, and geographic location. Finally, using algorithms to differentiate between fruit, foliage, and other stuff, these robots are capable of harvesting a variety of fruit, from a 50g apricot to bigger fruit like apples, up to 700g.

This approach is still being refined, however. When tree branches block these robots from picking apples, which may be the case for up to half of the harvest, it is still challenging for them to do so. They also have a hard time determining if a fruit is worm-infested, which may ruin a large amount of the harvest. Last but not least, they are unable to thin the apples, a practice that entails removing extra fruit while it is still young in order to promote the growth of the finest fruit. As a consequence, in addition to that performed by robots, physical work is still necessary.

There are more harvesting options using intelligent robotic vehicles, such as the one provided by FFRobotics. This is yet another substitute for hand harvesting. With the help of its sophisticated software, the robot can recognize fruit based on parameters that the producer has already defined, ensuring that only the right fruit is gathered. Exclusive fruit picking is really up to ten times quicker than human labor. Additionally, the device assesses and offers information on the fruit gathered, broken down by tree or farming region.

For farmers, data analysis is just as important as harvesting. This is the exact goal of the Google-developed Mineral robot, which has been assisting US farmers for a while. It has been created to maximize harvests and support the development of a more robust and sustainable food system. Additionally, the problem is enormous given the growing population of the planet.