Your Next Pint of Raspberries Might Be Picked by a Robot
Summary
Fieldwork Robotics, a company in the U.K., has created a robot that can pick raspberries using artificial intelligence and special sensors to find ripe fruit. The robot uses gentle arms to pick berries without damage and works quickly, helping farmers with labor shortages and reducing waste.Key Facts
- The robot attaches to a self-driving, battery-powered vehicle with four picking arms.
- Each arm has a "picking cup" that gently grips raspberries using an inflatable membrane.
- The robot can detect seven different ripeness levels to pick fruit based on customer needs.
- In tests, the robot picked raspberries from a 328-foot row in about 40 minutes.
- It harvests about 3.3 to 4.4 pounds of fruit per hour.
- Robots do not need breaks, wages, or benefits, making harvesting more flexible and cost-effective.
- The technology is meant to assist human workers, not replace them completely.
- Future versions will improve the ability to find berries hidden deep in bushes.
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