Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-dfsvx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-27T00:17:38.940Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Robotic picking of citrus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2009

R.C. Harrell
Affiliation:
University of Florida, Agricultural Engineering Department, Gainesville, Florida 32611 (U.S.A.)
P.D. Adsit
Affiliation:
University of Florida, Agricultural Engineering Department, Gainesville, Florida 32611 (U.S.A.)
R.D. Munilla
Affiliation:
University of Florida, Agricultural Engineering Department, Gainesville, Florida 32611 (U.S.A.)
D.C. Slaughter
Affiliation:
University of Florida, Agricultural Engineering Department, Gainesville, Florida 32611 (U.S.A.)

Summary

A prototype robot for picking citrus is described which utilized real-time, color machine vision to vision-servo the robot on a targeted fruit. A programming technique is presented which simplified development of the task-level, robot control program. An economic evaluation of robotic harvesting in Florida determined that robotic harvesting would be approximately 50 percent more expensive than conventional hand harvesting. Harvest inefficiency was identified as the most influential factor affecting robotic harvesting economics. Field trial performance is summarized and the potential of commercial robotic harvesting discussed.

Type
Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Whitney, J. and Harrell, R., “Status of Citrus Harvesting in FloridaJ Agric Engng Res 42, 285299 (1989).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2.Schertz, C.E. and Brown, G.K., “Basic considerations in mechanizing citrus harvestTransactions ASAE 11(2), 343348 (1968).Google Scholar
3.d'Esnon, A. Grand, Pellenc, R., Rabatel, G., Journeau, A. and Aldon, M., “Magali: a self propelled robot to pick apples” ASAE Paper No. 87–037. ASAE, St. Joseph, MI.(1987).Google Scholar
4.Kawamura, N., Namikawa, K., Fujiura, T., Ura, M. and Ogawa, Y., “Study on agricultural robot (VII): hand of fruit harvesting robot” Research Report on Agricultural Machinery, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. No. 17 17 (1987).Google Scholar
5.Pool, T.A., “Motion control of a citrus-picking robot” Ph.D. dissertation (Agricultural Engineering Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, 1989).Google Scholar
6.Harrell, R.C., Adsit, P.D. and Slaughter, D.C., “Real-Time Vision Servoing of a Robotic Tree-Fruit Harvester” ASAE Paper No. 85–3550. ASAE, St. Joseph, MI. (1985).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7.Harrell, R.C., Slaughter, D.C. and Adsit, P.D., “A Fruit-Tracking System for Robotic HarvestingMach. Vis. Appl. 2, 6980 (1989).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8.Slaughter, D.C. and Harrell, R.C., “Discriminating fruit in a natural outdoor scene for robotic harvestTransactions ASAE 32(2), 757763 (1989).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9.Snyder, W.E., Industrial Robots: Computer Interfacing and Control (Prentice-Hall Industrial Robot Series, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1985).Google Scholar
10.Slaughter, D.C., “Colour Vision for Robotic Orange Harvesting” Ph.D. dissertation. (Agricultural Engineering Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, 1987).Google Scholar
11.Adsit, P.D., “Real-time, intelligent control of a vision-servoed fruit-picking robot” Ph.D. Dissertation (Agricultural Engineering Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, 1989).Google Scholar
12.Brown, G.K., Schertz, C.E. and Huzar, C.K., “Fruit-Bearing Characteristics of Orange and Grapefruit Trees in California” Research Report ARS 42–181 (Harvesting and Farm Processing Research Branch, Agricultural Engineering Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agricultural, 1971).Google Scholar
13.Coppock, G.E., Hedden, S.L. and Lenker, D.H., “Biophysical properties of citrus fruit related to mechanical harvestingTransaction ASAE 12(4), 561563 (1969).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
14. Anon., “Florida agricultural statistics—citrus summary 1984” Florida Crop and Livestock Reporting Service, 1222 Woodward Street, Orlando, Florida 32803 (1984).Google Scholar
15.Harrell, R.C., “Economic Analysis of Robotic Citrus Harvesting In FloridaTransactions ASAE 30(2), 298304 (1987).Google Scholar
16.Hooks, R.C., “Estimated Cost of Picking and Hauling Florida Citrus, 1982–83 season” Food and Resource Economics Department Economic Information Report 214 Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611 (1986).Google Scholar