Apple orchard robots are being developed by researchers at Cornell University to take on some of the most labor-intensive tasks in apple production. The four-year, $7.5 million USDA-funded project will explore how autonomous technology can assist growers with pollination, fruit thinning, harvesting and weed control.
The project comes as labor costs continue to create challenges for orchard operators. Researchers are looking at artificial intelligence and machine learning as tools that could help automate difficult field tasks while maintaining the care and precision required for apple production.
Apple Orchard Robots Focus on Key Tasks
The Cornell research team plans to develop autonomous robots capable of working throughout apple orchards and performing several jobs that currently require significant amounts of human labor.
One area of focus is robotic pollination, which could help growers address the challenges associated with ensuring adequate pollination during the growing season. The robots will also be designed to thin fruit, harvest apples and control weeds.
Fruit thinning and harvesting can be particularly labor-intensive because workers must carefully identify individual apples and branches while navigating complex orchard environments.
Researchers say the technology will rely on artificial intelligence and machine learning to help the robots recognize fruit, branches and other structures within the orchard.
Protecting Fruit During Automated Harvest
Developing automation for orchard production involves more than simply teaching a machine to locate an apple. The robots must also be able to interact with trees and fruit without causing damage.
Researchers plan to focus on carefully handling apples as the technology is developed. That capability will be important if robotic harvesting is eventually going to become a practical option for commercial orchards.
The four-year research effort reflects a broader push to explore automation as agricultural producers face rising labor expenses and workforce challenges. For apple growers, successfully integrating robotics could provide another tool for completing essential production tasks more efficiently.
The technology is still in the research and development stage, but the project could provide valuable insight into how artificial intelligence, machine learning and autonomous equipment can work together in specialty crop production.
Listen to the accompanying podcast for more on the Cornell project and how researchers are working to bring robotics and artificial intelligence into apple orchard production.