Robot fruit picker to aid Australian horti industry cope with labor shortages

An Ardmona-based robotics team has successfully field tested a new fruit picker prototype. The first field test happened at McNab Orchards at Ardmona. McNab Orchards owner Andrew McNab has been helping Ripe Robotics by giving them shed space and access to fruit trees.

Right now McNab Orchards is achieving 60 tons of apples per hectare, but the goal is to get more than 100 tons/ha by planting more densely, shrinking row laneways and increasing limbs.

Source: abc.net.au