PULLMAN, Wash. – Researchers at Washington State University (WSU) have recently developed a robotic arm that may one day transform the agriculture industry in the state.
According to a press release from WSU, the robot arm can see an apple, then extend and retract itself to pick it in less than 25 seconds.
“The uncomplicated nature of the design makes it low-cost, easy to maintain, and highly reliable for a soft robot,” Flaherty Assistant Professor in WSU’s School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering Ming Luo said.
Luo said that an aging farming population and a recent decrease in migrant workers has caused some farms to be short-staffed and lose product. While visiting farms across the state, he saw fallen fruit rotting on the ground.
“Having this very low-cost, safe robotic platform is ideal for the orchard environment,” Ryan Dorosh, a PhD candidate and lead author on the work said.
The robotic arm is still not quite as fast as a human, who can pick an apple in 3 seconds or less.
For more information, visit the WSU website.
