Autonomous affordable robot for tomato harvesting in passive environments

Informations projet

AUTOMATO

N° de convention de subvention: 878114

DOI

10.3030/878114

Projet clôturé

Date de signature de la CE 31 Juillet 2019

Date de début 1 Août 2019

Date de fin 30 Novembre 2019

Financé au titre de

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Coût total

€ 71 429,00

Contribution de l’UE

€ 50 000,00

Coordonné par

AUTOMATO AGRICULTURAL ROBOTICS LTD
Israel

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - AUTOMATO (Autonomous affordable robot for tomato harvesting in passive environments)

Période du rapport: 2019-08-01 au 2019-11-30

Résumé du contexte et des objectifs généraux du projet

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.

Travail effectué depuis le début du projet jusqu’à la fin de la période considérée dans le rapport et principaux résultats atteints jusqu’à présent

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.

Progrès au-delà de l’état des connaissances et impact potentiel prévu (y compris l’impact socio-économique et les conséquences sociétales plus larges du projet jusqu’à présent)

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.

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