Robofruit: greenhouse harvesting robot built by researchers at the University of Lincoln
Some estimates suggest that 37% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions come from the agri-food industry, so the UK government selected the University of Lincoln to share its advanced robotics and artificial intelligence technologies, which shape the future of sustainable food production, at COP26.
The UN climate conference COP26 opened in Glasgow on 31 October 2021, aiming to bring countries together to accelerate action toward the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The Lincoln Institute of Agri-Food Technology (LIAT), a specialist research institute of the University of Lincoln, is taking part in the public exhibition "Green Zone" alongside many industry leaders at the forefront of climate science.
Researchers at the University of Lincoln presented Robofruit, one of many modern agritech projects that uses artificial intelligence and a new harvesting technology to pick ripe fruit. The research offers long-term environmental benefits, including reduced food waste through more efficient use of crops. It will also help address labour shortages in the UK, paving the way for wider use of robotics and artificial intelligence in agriculture.
The University of Lincoln has one of the largest academic agricultural robotics research centres in Europe. The research conducted by LIAT aims to make the industry sustainable by addressing labour shortages, the need for global food production, and reducing the agricultural sector's impact on the environment.
LIAT and its partners are also behind Robot Highways, one of the world's largest demonstration projects of robotic farms, which offers a glimpse of the future of agriculture. Robots help farmers by carrying out important, energy-intensive physical tasks on the farm, such as harvesting and packing fruit, and treating crops to reduce dangerous pests and diseases, all powered by renewable energy.
“The Lincoln Institute of Agri-Food Technology supports and improves the future of food and agricultural productivity, efficiency and sustainability through research, education and technology. We are honoured to be chosen as one of the few UK universities selected by the government to take part in COP26”
The COP26 exhibition features a range of field activities, including agroforestry, robotic harvesting and plant care, as well as packaging, digitalisation and the use of artificial intelligence.
“We are showing the world how robotics and automation are shaping the future of agriculture and food production in the UK and abroad. The University of Lincoln is at the forefront of agritech and agri-food development in the UK, and our research and teaching support innovation and build professional skills together with partners in our food and agriculture sectors. Together we are working toward net zero emissions across the entire industry”
The University of Lincoln will take part in the COP26 exhibition from 1 to 12 November. While one of the University's robots is at COP26, a wider range of technologies and speakers was presented at the FPC Futures conference on 4 November at the Lincolnshire Show Ground, where members of the public could get up close to the technologies and talk with researchers.
"Selective harvesting of soft fruit in dense clusters is a complex technical and scientific challenge. Existing technologies can only handle simple picking scenarios. Robofruit aims to develop a new picking head that can handle many other harvesting scenarios. We aim to develop a versatile device for picking ripe fruit. The long-term environmental benefits will be reduced food waste through more efficient use of crops," the University's website says.
It is worth noting that similar developments are being carried out by various companies and organisations in many countries. Typically, a harvesting robot is a mobile autonomous cart equipped with a manipulator and an AI-based computer vision system that can determine the optimal moment to pick each fruit, as well as identify fruit in complex surroundings (behind branches or leaves). The computer vision system helps pick the selected fruit without damaging the plant or the fruit's integrity.
Today, such devices often work more slowly than humans but for longer hours: robots do not need rest and can work around the clock, pausing only to recharge their batteries. Given rising labour costs and shortages, the profitability of using robots in agriculture keeps growing. Using robots in greenhouses is becoming especially popular, as seasonality is less pronounced there.
