Artificial intelligence and automation technologies are changing the way we live, and the development of agricultural picking robots is particularly noteworthy. These robots not only improve agricultural production efficiency, but also provide new solutions to solve the problem of labor shortage. An AI robot developed in Abu Dhabi is changing the way strawberries are harvested. Created by experts from the Mohammed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), the robot can identify and pick ripe strawberries without damage, working in environments ranging from sunny fields to controlled greenhouses.
The Strawberry Picker project was led by MBZUAI’s Robotics Department and completed in collaboration with machine learning and computer vision experts. The project aims to help farmers reduce labor costs while maintaining productivity and fruit quality.
Key Technologies
The robot uses advanced technologies in artificial intelligence, computer vision, machine learning, robotics, and precision agriculture. It is equipped with high-resolution cameras and sensors that can analyze plants in real time and identify ripe strawberries based on color, size, and shape. Machine learning algorithms ensure accurate identification, distinguishing ripe fruits from unripe or damaged fruits, and the robot can accurately identify the maturity and location of crops, which is the basis for accurate picking. Advanced robotic arm design and grasping algorithms ensure that the robot can operate flexibly and avoid causing damage to crops.
Once ripe strawberries are detected, the robotic arm with a sensitive gripper picks the fruit without damage. The robot combines active perception with manipulation capabilities, adjusting its position or gripper based on environmental factors such as light, obstacles, or plant movement caused by wind. Autonomous navigation enables the robot to move efficiently between rows of plants, optimizing routes and avoiding obstacles through AI-driven pathfinding algorithms.
Advantages
Professor Dezhen Song, Associate Director of the Department of Robotics at MBZUAI, said that MBZUAI’s expertise in robotics, computer vision, and machine learning ensures that these robots can operate with excellent precision and adaptability, mimicking the carefulness and concentration of human workers, but faster and more efficiently. Core contributors to the project include Professors Ivan Laptev and Hao Li, as well as a multidisciplinary team of AI engineers, roboticists, and agricultural scientists. They have addressed the challenges of precision agriculture and have several advantages over traditional farming methods.
The AI-driven robot improves precision, reduces waste, minimizes damage to plants, and increases crop yields. It operates continuously with stable performance and no overtime. Automation reduces labor costs and solves labor shortages. The modular design can adapt to different crops, making it scalable to various farming environments.
The robot can also be applied to other crops such as tomatoes, apples or bell peppers. Professor Song explained that advanced sensors enable the robot to adapt to different lighting conditions, such as bright sunlight or lower indoor lighting in greenhouses. The hardware can withstand various environmental challenges, including different temperatures, humidity and dust. The AI model can be fine-tuned for specific environments to ensure optimal performance in outdoor fields, indoor vertical farms or multi-greenhouse environments.
Future Trends
Intelligence and adaptability: Future harvesting robots will be more intelligent and able to adjust harvesting strategies according to crop growth and environmental changes, achieving a higher level of adaptability.
Multitasking capabilities: In addition to harvesting, future robots may also undertake multiple tasks such as fertilization, weeding, and pest and disease monitoring, becoming true “farm stewards.”
Cost reduction and popularization: With the advancement of technology and the expansion of production scale, the cost of harvesting robots is expected to be further reduced, allowing them to be used in a wider range of agricultural scenarios.
The development of agricultural harvesting robots marks an important step in the transformation of agriculture towards intelligence and automation. In the future, with the continuous breakthrough of technology, these robots will play a greater role in ensuring food safety and improving agricultural sustainability.
