FieldCoBots
Heterogeneous field robotics for strawberry harvesting
Global competition and a shortage of harvest workers require innovative robotic systems that work together with humans. For some crops, a largely automated harvest is possible, while others (e.g. strawberries) have to be harvested by hand. However, the physically demanding work and rising labor costs make it increasingly difficult to find workers. Autonomous robotic systems can relieve human harvest workers of some of the tasks involved in harvesting and transporting the products. In FieldCoBots, different robots and humans work together in a hybrid team. Planning, coordination, and communication systems are being developed to structure the teamwork.
| Duration: | 01.04.2025 till 30.09.2027 |
| Donee: | German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence GmbH |
| Sponsor: | Federal Ministry of Education and Research |
| Grant number: | 02K24K032 |
| Partner: |
Ant Robotics GmbH |
| Application Field: | Agricultural Robotics |
| Related Projects: |
RoBivaL
Robot Soil Interaction Evaluation in Agriculture
(08.2021-
10.2023)
HySociaTea
Hybrid Social Teams for Long-Term Collaboration in Cyber-Physical Environments
(09.2014-
08.2016)
Hybr‐iT
Hybrid and intelligent human-robot collaboration – Hybrid teams in versatile cyber-physical production environments
(11.2016-
10.2019)
COOPERANTS
COllabOrative Processes and sERvices for AeroNauTics and Space
(01.2022-
12.2024)
|
| Related Robots: |
SHIVAA
Strawberry Harvester: an Innovative Vehicle for Application in Agriculture
|
Project details
Objectives and approach
For use in the existing process chain of a harvesting company, systems that can be collaboratively and flexibly adapted to the fluctuating requirements of an agricultural business and work hand in hand with the human actors are of particular interest. The planned project therefore focuses on three technological pillars, using the example of strawberry harvesting:
(1) a “digital field” infrastructure (DFI) for digitizing the process chain,
(2) robotic systems for automated strawberry harvesting and goods transport in the field, and
(3) a technical solution for managing the hybrid team of human and robotic systems.
The technologies researched in the project will be demonstrated in a real test environment on a strawberry farm during the project period.
Innovations and prospects
The successful implementation of hybrid teams of robots and humans in strawberry harvesting will increase harvesting performance, relieve the workload on workers and reduce costs. The success is reflected in higher yields and more flexible harvesting systems that can be implemented on a scalable basis. The opportunities lie in the reduction of harvesting costs, the optimized use of resources and the possibility of compensating for staff shortages. The benefit for users lies in a flexible and cost-effective solution. The results can be transferred to other agricultural crops and similar labor-intensive industries.