Project description
3D-vision robotic arms pick the perfect tomato
Tomatoes are very popular for production in greenhouses. However, the process is complicated and requires attention every day. Harvesting is also labour-intensive. In this context, the EU-funded GRoW project will develop a robotic solution that will be able to handle the tomatoes without causing physical damage (bruises, cuts and abrasions). An advanced 3D-vision system will be able to identify ripe fruits among leaves and stems. Multiple extensible robotic arms will increase harvest speeds, and touch-sensitive terminals will prevent damage and loss of fruits. This will allow for the profitable harvesting of tomatoes all year round without the risk of labour shortage. As such, harvesting will be accelerated without increased labour costs.
Objective
The objective of the project is to demonstrate technological and business viability of the robotic harvesting applied in greenhouse farming of tomatoes.
To date no commercial product for automated operations on tomatoes is available because of complex R&D that a producer has to face for developing a device capable to handle this extremely damageable fruit.
Metomotion has found solutions to all the challenging technical steps, thereby allowing profitable harvesting of tomatoes and making it possible to growers to harvest the fruits throughout the year and not being exposed to labor shortage.
By doing so, the harvest speed is doubled and the labor costs are halved.
Moreover, our GRoW (Greenhouse Robotic Worker) will alleviate agricultural employees from back breaking work, permitting them to switch to more elevated tasks.
In the context of the Precision Farming approach, automation in the agricultural sector is particularly solicited and MetoMotion is offering a product capable to satisfy the most compelling needs of the growers.
The core innovations brought by MetoMotion consist of:
- Advanced 3D vision system to clearly identify ripe fruits among leaves and stems
- Extensible multiple robotic arms to increase harvest speed
- Touch sensitive terminals to avoid damage and loos of fruits
- Fully autonomous vehicle hosting embedding a box for the automated packing of collected fruits
First interactions with users have shown great interest toward GRoW product.
Within Phase 1 project, we will further explore the customer base to provide a comprehensive estimation of commercial potential relevant to GRoW.
To date, on extremely precautionary basis, we forecast MetoMotion’s production capacity of about 200 robots/year, generating revenues of about € 30 mln in 3 years of operation. This figure may be substantially reviewed in the course of the Phase 1 project.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringautomotive engineeringautonomous vehicles
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturehorticulturefruit growing
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesartificial intelligencecomputer vision
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturehorticulturevegetable growing
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringrobotics
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinator
2161401 KARMIEL
Israel
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.