- Author: Mark Bolda
For those who missed yesterday's field meeting, the following is a short summary of the presentation of a robotic harvesting machine for strawberries.
The machine, called "Agrobot", is the creation of a research group in Spain headed by Engineer Juan Bravo, who is seen driving the machine in several pictures below.
Rather than futilely attempt to match the profound and unique complexity of the human hand, the principle of the "Agrobot" is instead a construction of visualization technology which guides a rubber lined basket to the red, ripened strawberry fruit and removes it in a lifting motion from the pedicel with a small round razor buttoned to one side of the basket (photo 2 below). The picked fruit is then deposited on a conveyer belt, which carries it up to a worker seated at the front of the "Agrobot" for quality inspection and placement in a container, be it a clamshell, crate or bucket.
There are a series of arms holding the harvest baskets on either side of the machine to enable picking on both sides of the bed. Much has been of the fact that these arms, having a modular design, are replaceable in case of damage or malfunction. The unit containing the arm and its automated guide snaps easily out to make room for an identical unit, causing minimal delay in the progress of harvest.
Nice video by Luis Macario posted on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nm3WS5y3kCk&feature=youtu.be
While the "Agrobot" automated harvester is being seen as technology's response to the strawberry industry's increasing problems obtaining harvest labor, many challenges remain nevertheless. For one, the varieties currently in use on the Central Coast produce many fruit in one cluster, which the machine has difficulty distinguishing from one another. Secondly, as the reader can see from picture number three below, the strawberry field must be radically reshaped to accommodate the machine, including farming strawberries in single rows (reducing plant count and subsequently lowering yield per acre) and raising the beds substantially. Third, the machine cannot think for itself and will not find fruit behind foliage or sequestered within the canopy of the plant.
At any rate, the "Agrobot" is a remarkable invention and worthy of a look and consideration by those who haven't seen it yet.
I studied above information about harvester machine.
We need more information about these machines and prices to market your products in our region.
Your prompt reply would be appreciated,
Best regards
I can put you in contact with Juan Bravo, who is the head of the team responsible for putting this machine together. Email me at my mpbolda ucdavis edu account and I will send it to you.
I studied above information about harvester machine.
I need more information about these machines and prices to market your products in our region.
Waiting for ur reply
You should contact the California Strawberry Commission, who sponsored the construction of this thing and worked with Sr. Bravo to try it out in California.
How Money wil cost a Mashine?
What Modells are you have?
I will Sell your Products in Our Region.
Best Regards
G.A
Is the Agrobot E-Series Harvester still on the market?
Currently conducting an assignment, just wondering When the agrobot was first developed, and when was it first tested.
Cheers and much love
It's currently in pieces down in some substrate operation in Oxnard.