Apple-Picking Robots Are Coming to Farms
Abundant Robotics, a newly spun-out company from SRI Ventures, is developing robots that will automate apple harvesting. These robots use AI to pick apples accurately and without damaging them.
Dan Steere, CEO and co-founder of Abundant Robotics, says the robots are strong and fast enough to remove one apple per second from a tree, but gentle enough to avoid harming trees or the fruit.
The robots utilize computer vision to recognize ripe apples and employ a vacuum-like mechanism to pluck them from the branches.
SRI Ventures, an incubator within SRI International, has invested in this project. SRI Ventures has already spun out 7 other companies in 2016, all attracting external venture investments.
Abundant Robotics aims to have its autonomous apple-picking robots in production and operating in orchards within two years. Currently, they are conducting field trials in Washington and Australia.
