California’s Citrus Research Board has signed a $900,000 nondilutive funding agreement with Nanovel that includes delivery of a citrus-harvesting robot after a series of field trials.
The field trials are set to start in spring 2025 and will be conducted in cooperation with citrus growers. Nanovel, an Israeli company established in 2018 by CEO Isaac Mazor, has unveiled an artificial intelligence-powered autonomous fruit-harvesting robot capable of picking citrus fruit for the fresh market, according to a news release.
According to Nanovel, the robot offers a solution to growers dealing with farm labor shortages and rapidly increasing costs.
The robot is designed to pick citrus in dense foliage, and the system features a multi-arm platform that will initially be towed by a tractor, the release said. Future versions are planned to include an internal driving unit and autonomous navigation capabilities.
The robot’s telescopic arms are equipped with edge computing, advanced vision systems and AI to identify, assess and selectively pick fruit that meets fresh market quality standards. Each arm of the robot uses an end-effector with a vacuum gripper to cradle the fruit and then trim the stems using cutters without damaging the fruit. The fruit is then transported via conveyor belts to bins.
In the first phase, the robot is planned to harvest oranges, with later expansion to other types of citrus, the release said. The Nanovel system can operate day and night, optimizing productivity and ensuring crops are picked at optimal times.
Nanovel said the real-time collection of harvest data by the system delivers insights that can be used for packing and marketing activities, and the data can also provide agronomic insights to growers.
Nanovel showcased investment opportunities in the fruit-harvesting robot at the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit in London from Sept. 30 to Oct. 1.
