Project description DEENESFRITPL Multi-arm fruit robot to pioneer the automation of fresh fruit harvesting Even though machines have replaced human hands in a lot of farm jobs, fruit farming continues to rely on humans. However, this also leaves fresh fruit tree growers exposed to labour shortages as well as rising labour and production costs. What is more, between 10-15 % of a yield may be inadvertently bruised by human pickers. Automation in fresh fruit harvesting is now emerging as an alternative. The FFRobot, a pioneering multi-arm fruit harvesting robot, is fitted with computerised vision, image processing software and appropriate algorithms. It can move automatically among the orchard rows and pick a variety of fresh fruits without human involvement. The EU-funded ROBOHARVEST project will prepare for the robot's commercialisation by demonstrating its operative functionality and cost-efficiency. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Fresh fruit tree growers worldwide are increasingly burdened by the scarcity of human labour, rising labour costs, and overall production costs. This phenomenon is becoming more acute in light of regulatory restrictions, as well as constraints on import and temporary employment from less developed countries. Moreover, human pickers inadvertently bruise some of the fruit picked during the picking process. The result is loss of yield and profit to the fruit grower by up to 30%. The need for automation in agriculture in general and in fresh fruit harvesting in particular has never been greater and we intend to tap into this market with the launch of the FFRobot. We anticipate a market penetration rate of 3% of the TAM, amounting to potential annual revenues of €240M. The FFRobot is a revolutionary multi-arm fruit harvesting robot with specially developed computerized vision, image processing software and dedicated algorithms. The FFRobot can move automatically amongst the orchard rows and pick apples and a variety of different fresh fruit by emulating the human hand movement, all without human touch! In the last submission we received a Seal of Excellence and a score of 13.88! We have since then reached a significant operational milestone. Our main objective for this Phase 2 project is to bridge the gap from TRL 7 to full commercialisation of the FFRobot. To achieve this, activities for this project will centre on: demonstrating the operative functionality of the multi-arm FFRobot (including field trial tests); improving the cost effectiveness of the FFRobot; identifying and signing agreements with commercialisation partners; and devising a viable short and long-term commercialisation and scale-up plan. FFRobotics was founded in 2014 by Avi Kahani (CEO), with the vision of disrupting the fresh fruit harvesting market by automating the fruit picking process from end-to-end. It is AgTech at its best, combining computer vision and robotics. Fields of science agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturehorticulturefruit growingnatural sciencescomputer and information sciencesartificial intelligencecomputer visionsocial sciencessociologyindustrial relationsautomationsocial scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and managementemploymentengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringrobotics Keywords Robotic tree fruit harvesting robotic tree fruit harvester automated tree harvesting agricultural services harvesting aids robotic harvesting systems human labourers human pickers orchards Programme(s) H2020-EU.2.3. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs Main Programme H2020-EU.3. - PRIORITY 'Societal challenges H2020-EU.2.1. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies Topic(s) EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020 - SME instrument Call for proposal H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020 See other projects for this call Sub call H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020-3 Funding Scheme SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2 Coordinator FFROBOTICS LTD Net EU contribution € 2 149 878,50 Address 1, ITZHAK RABIN BLVD 4282300 Kadima Tzoran Israel See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 3 071 255,00
