Project name: Harvester for cutting branches of fruit bushes “AgroBots”
Short name of the project: “AgroBots”
Agreement on project implementation number: 22-00-A01612-000021
Project administrator: Institute of Industrial Electronics and Electrical Engineering
Funding: Latvian Rural Development Programs for 2014 – 2020, 16.12. “Support for the implementation of the project of EIP agricultural productivity and sustainability working groups”
The role of Sia LATMAS in the project: partner
Status: In implementation
Project start date: 01.07.2022.
Project end date: 30.06.2025.
Name of Funding Provider: Rural support service
Total financing of the project: 443 120.00 EUR
Rural development – European Commission
Project summary
Automation and mechanization are an inevitable part of the development of any industry. The solution of the project envisages finding a mechanized and automated solution for activities that are currently performed using manual labor. It’s no secret that attracting helpers and seasonal workers to agricultural work becomes more and more difficult every year. The lack of availability of these workers and the increasing costs in the agricultural industry are one of the main challenges for further growth and even survival, both in Latvia and in Europe. The project envisages the development of a completely new, innovative system – a robotic branch-cutting mechanism that autonomously makes a decision on performing an operation. Both the mechanical part of the solution – a platform with a robot manipulator and a cutting mechanism, as well as software and a visual recognition system – are innovative. Currently, there are no automated solutions available on the market for cutting sea buckthorn branches during harvest, as well as for cutting bush blueberry branches during the off-season period. According to the specialists involved in the project, the equipment under development will be able to perform both tasks. As an additional result, a methodology for the processing and recognition of specific plant images will be developed and tested, which Latvian scientists will be able to use for the development of future digital twins.
The following activities will be implemented during the project
The project envisages the development of a device that can autonomously recognize, make a decision and cut the necessary branches.
To accomplish this, the following tasks must be performed:
- To develop technical and software (algorithm) solutions for the computer vision (CV) system fruit tree bush for branch recognition, separation, three-dimensional (3D) localization and tracking in various external environmental conditions.
- Develop a CV-based software (algorithm) for autonomous analysis, evaluation and decision-making to cut branches that meet multi-criteria analysis parameters for branch cutting. The work involves transferring the practical knowledge and skills of human experience to the digital environment to perform recognition, pruning, thus creating innovative technology that is capable of working autonomously.
- Design and build a moving platform structure and a robotic manipulator with a suitable amount of free movement to reach the necessary branches of the bush;
- Develop and construct a “soft” gripping and cutting tool as a manipulator’s active work performer. The gripper should be sensitive enough not to damage the berries and adjacent branches, while at the same time preventing the branches from falling to the ground.
- Develop software (algorithm) for trajectory calculations and control for each moving element of the manipulator and cutting mechanism, ensuring accurate gripping and cutting.
- Integration of the above-mentioned mechanical and software solutions in the production of a prototype – branch cutting equipment.
- Prototype calibration and testing in field conditions, both for cutting sea buckthorn branches and for tending huckleberry bushes.
Cooperation partners
- RTU (managing partner)
- LPKS Rūjienas oga
- Kocēnu pagasta zemnieku saimniecības “Mežmalas-1”
- SIA Zaptsmaize
- SIA Eninn
