Not too Far from the Tree

Abstract

This article explores the concept of robotic harvesting and use of computer, sensors, and artificial intelligence in the field of harvesting. More powerful computers, better sensors, and improved artificial intelligence promise to make machines competitive with human laborers for picking the apple harvest. Israel-based FFRobotics is one of the two companies racing to commercialize the world’s first mechanical apple picker. FFRobotics plan to test their apple-picking robot on Washington’s 2018 harvest, which runs from mid-August through mid-November. Modern orchard designs also allow engineers to build simpler apple-picking systems, according to Amir Degani, founder of the Civil, Environmental, and Agricultural Robotics Lab at Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa. Degani advised with FFRobotics on developing its robotic arm. FFRobotics is still struggling with whether to go with open- or closed-loop controller. The open-loop system recognizes a specific fruit and sends the gripper to that location. If a strong wind moves the apple left or right, the gripper does not follow. The closed-loop system tracks the movement of the fruit by distinctive points on the apple’s face as guides and adjusts the arm as it moves closer to the apple. While closed-loop systems are more effective, they are also too expensive.