Periodic Reporting for period 1 - AUTOMATO (Autonomous affordable robot for tomato harvesting in passive environments)
Reporting period: 2019-08-01 to 2019-11-30
AUTOMATO Project seeks to solve the international agricultural employment crisis by developing autonomous, efficient and affordable robots for every greenhouse. AUTOMATO Robotics’ main focus is on single tomatoes, grown in soil greenhouses/high-tunnels- passive (harsh & complex) environments. The robot autonomously manoeuvres in the greenhouse, detects ripe tomatoes and harvests them. The core innovation in this harvesting robot is our proprietary ground-breaking detection & navigation algorithms for harvesting tomatoes in harsh environments and detect tomato plant pests and diseases. The objective of this SME Instrument Phase 1 project is to study the technical, commercial and financial feasibility of this innovation to minimize risks.
During this feasibility study we have established the roadmap to reach TRL 9. A technical and commercial risk analysis was conducted, and we established mitigation measures. We also conducted a survey of the regulatory landscape and certification requirements for commercialisation in the EU, Israel, USA, China and Japan and detailed it in a report. We conducted a Market assessment for the Tomato Harvest market through which we did a price benchmark study, competitor analysis, established the market drivers and barriers, establish our market share. We also refined our commercialisation strategy, surveyed the Intellectual Property landscape and ensured we have the Freedom to Operate. Through this study we also managed to establish the investments needs for the project, conducted a cost/benefit analysis for the AUTOMATO production and projected our financial growth.
The few existing robotics solutions under development target active greenhouse environments (clean and prepared), which are only 10% of all tomato greenhouses. AUTOMATO is a ground breaking robotic solution set to revolutionize tomato harvest in passive environments (90% of all greenhouses). AUTOMATO will save farmers from bankruptcy following their inability to bring in reasonably priced workforce or hire workforce at all. Furthermore, it helps in the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals for elimination of poverty, hunger, decent work and economic growth, sustainable cities and communities and partnerships for the goals.