A prototype of an orange picking robot: past history, the new robot and experimental results

Abstract

Purpose

To construct a commercial agricultural manipulation for fruit picking and handling without human intervention.

Design/methodology/approach

Describes a research activity involving a totally autonomous robot for fruit picking and handling crates.

Findings

Picking time for the robotic fruit picker at 8.7 s per orange is longer than the evaluated cited time of 6 s per orange.

Research limitations/implications

The final system, recently tested, has not yet achieved a level of productivity capable of replacing human pickers. Further mechanical modifications and more robust and adaptive algorithms are needed to achieve a stronger robot system.

Practical implications

Experimental results and new simulations look very promising.

Originality/value

Will help to limit costs and guarantee a high degree of reliability.

Citation

Muscato, G., Prestifilippo, M., Abbate, N. and Rizzuto, I. (2005), "A prototype of an orange picking robot: past history, the new robot and experimental results", Industrial Robot, Vol. 32 No. 2, pp. 128-138. https://doi.org/10.1108/01439910510582255