Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University have developed an autonomous robot capable of navigating and harvesting strawberries in high-bed cultivation environments using lidar technology.
This innovation addresses Japan’s agricultural labor shortages, particularly the challenges of manual strawberry harvesting.
Assistant Professor Takuya Fujinaga, from the Graduate School of Engineering, led the development of an algorithm enabling the robot to operate in two modes: navigating to predetermined locations and moving alongside raised cultivation beds.
Fujinaga says: “If robots can move around the farm more precisely, the range of tasks that they can perform automatically will expand, not only for harvesting, but also for monitoring for disease and pruning.
“My research shows a possibility, and once this type of agricultural robot becomes more practical to use, it will make a significant contribution to improving work efficiency and reducing labor, especially for high-bed cultivation.”
Utilizing lidar, which employs laser pulses to create detailed 3D maps, the robot maintains precise distances from crop beds, ensuring accurate movement.
The system’s effectiveness was validated in both virtual simulations and real-world tests.
This advancement is significant amid Japan’s declining agricultural workforce, attributed to an aging population and reduced interest in farming among younger generations.
The autonomous robot not only aids in harvesting but also holds potential for tasks like disease monitoring and pruning, contributing to more efficient and sustainable farming practices.
The research findings were published in the journal Computers and Electronics in Agriculture.
