Dual-Arm Robot Can Save Time and Labor Costs

Labor cost for apple production accounts for 56% to 65% of total production costs, based on the latest information from Michigan Apple Committee and Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission, which are the first and second largest apple producers in the U.S. Harvesting labor is the single largest cost in production of apples and other tree fruits. Harvest automation technology is urgently needed to address the rising costs and growing shortage of labor for fruit production. 

ARS researchers at the Sugarbeet and Bean Research Unit in collaboration with Michigan State University, both in East Lansing, MI, developed a new dual-arm harvesting robot, which incorporates the latest AI technology and innovative hardware for efficient picking of apples to save time and labor costs. This new robot demonstrates fast picking speeds of three seconds per fruit, with the potential to achieve the picking performance comparable to that of a human worker. This new robot design provides a commercially viable solution to automated harvesting of apples, which is critical to the long-term sustainability and global competitiveness of the U.S. apple industry.