fbpx
 
Home / News, Videos & Publications / News / Press Releases /

BGU Receives Grant to Develop Robots That Pick Only Ripe Fruit

BGU Receives Grant to Develop Robots That Pick Only Ripe Fruit

February 16, 2011

Press Releases

 BEER-SHEVA, ISRAEL, February 17,  2011– Robotics researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have received a $1.3 million grant (977,840 €) to develop intelligent sensing and manipulation algorithms for robots that can sense and pick high value crops. The project is part of the European Union Seventh Framework Program (FP7) “cRops” (Clever Robots for Crops).  cRops will develop the scientific know-how and several prototype systems to harvest high value crops, including greenhouse peppers, orchard fruits and premium wine grapes.

The cRops robotic platform will be capable of site-specific spraying (targeted spraying only on foliage and selected targets) and selective harvesting of fruit. The robots will be able to detect the fruit, sense its ripeness, then move to grasp and softly detach only the ripe fruit.

BGU’s role in the project will be to lead the development of intelligent sensing and manipulation algorithms. “An agricultural robot must be equipped with intelligence so as to be able to robustly operate in the unstructured, dynamic and hostile agricultural environment,” explains BGU Prof. Yael Edan, of the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management who is the BGU project leader. “We are developing an autonomous robotic platform that will reliably and accurately judge which produce is ready for harvest, and skip the ones that aren’t.”

The concept requires a strong multidisciplinary approach.  The group of BGU researchers includes:

• Dr. Ohad Ben Shahar, Department of Computer Science
• Dr. Amir Shapiro, Department of Mechanical Engineering
• Dr. Sigal Berman, Department of Industrial Engineering and Management
• Prof. Helman Stern, Department of Industrial Engineering and Management  

The cRops Consortium budget is for development of a highly configurable, modular and clever platform, comprising a carrier plus modular parallel manipulators and “intelligent tools” (sensors, algorithms, sprayers, grippers) that can be easily installed onto the carrier and are capable of adapting to new tasks and conditions.

The cRops research grant consortium is being coordinated by Wageningen University & Research Centre. The other members include University of Leuven, University of Ljubljana, UMEA University, Università degli Studi di Milano, CSIC, Institute de Automatica Industrial, Technical University Munich, Case New Holland NV, INIA PROGAP, Force-A, Festo AG & Co, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Jentjens Machinetechniek. http://www.crops-robots.eu/.

ABOUT AMERICANS FOR BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY

By supporting a world-class academic institution that not only nurtures the Negev, but also shares its expertise locally and globally, Americans for Ben-Gurion University engages a community of Americans who are committed to improving the world. David Ben-Gurion envisioned that Israel’s future would be forged in the Negev. The cutting-edge research carried out at Ben-Gurion University drives that vision by sustaining a desert Silicon Valley, with the “Stanford of the Negev” at its center. The Americans for Ben-Gurion University movement supports a 21st century unifying vision for Israel by rallying around BGU’s remarkable work and role as an apolitical beacon of light in the Negev desert.

About Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev embraces the endless potential we have as individuals and as a commonality to adapt and to thrive in changing environments. Inspired by our location in the desert, we aim to discover, to create, and to develop solutions to dynamic challenges, to pose questions that have yet to be asked, and to push beyond the boundaries of the commonly accepted and possible.

We are proud to be a central force for inclusion, diversity and innovation in Israel, and we strive to extend the Negev’s potential and our entrepreneurial spirit throughout the world. For example, the multi-disciplinary School for Sustainability and Climate Change at BGU leverages over 50 years of expertise on living and thriving in the desert into scalable solutions for people everywhere.

BGU at a glance:  

20,000 students | 800 senior faculty | 3 campuses | 6 faculties: humanities & social sciences, health sciences, engineering sciences, natural sciences, business & management, and desert research.

 

For all press inquiries, please contact:

James Fattal, J Cubed Communications

516.289.1496

[email protected]