Introduction
Have you ever wondered how vineyards achieve those perfectly plump grapes? A crucial step involves a process called “berry thinning.” This means selectively removing some berries from a bunch early on, allowing the remaining ones more space to grow bigger and juicier. Traditionally, this has been a labor-intensive task for farmers.
But what if robots could lend a hand (or rather, an arm)? This research explores a new technology utilizing a dual-arm robotic system powered by artificial intelligence (AI) to automate grape thinning.
Imagine this: one robotic arm acts like a tiny surgeon, using pre-determined coordinates to remove those unwanted berries. The other arm plays a supporting role, gently holding the grape cluster steady during the procedure. By working together, these robots can thin grapes autonomously, increase efficiency for vineyard operations, and reduce the time required to train inexperienced farmers in this crucial task.
This research dives deeper into the inner workings of this innovative system. We’ll explore how the robots use AI and sensors to autonomously identify and remove target berries within the grape bunch. Let’s see how robots are revolutionizing the way we grow grapes!
Publication
Automating Grape Thinning: Predicting Robotic Arm End-effector Position Using Depth Sensing Technology and Neural Networks
Prawit Buayai, Tan Yin Suan, Muhammad Faris Bin Kamarudzaman, Xiaoyang Mao, Hiromitsu Nishizaki, Koji Makino
IEEE International Workshop on Metrology for Agriculture and Forestry (MetroAgriFor), November 2023
Patent
摘粒案件
特許第7090255号（特願2022-3201）、2022年1月12日出願、【発明の名称】情報処理装置、システム、プログラム、及び情報処理方法、茅 暁陽、 ブアヤイ プラウィット、横澤 浩樹、根本 陽平