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Robotic Perception's pruning robot uses AI and vision to automated identify and trim plants precisely, boosting efficiency, crop health and solving labor shortage in agriculture.
About
Robotic Perception's automated pruning robot is an advanced agricultural solution designed to enhance precision and efficiency in crop management. Equipped with cutting-edge computer vision and AI algorithms, the robot can identify branches, assess plant health, and make intelligent pruning decisions in real time. It is mapping the environment and executing precise cuts that promote healthier growth and higher yields. This technology not only reduces the labor demands of manual pruning but also improves consistency and overall productivity in large-scale farming operations.
Key Benefits
Robotic Perception’s automatic (AI) pruning robot provides several compelling benefits for growers, particularly in vineyards and orchards:
1. Enhanced Safety & Risk Reduction
· Keeps workers off ladders and away from power lines and chemical exposure, significantly lowering injury risk.
· Reduces human contact with cutters and branches and wires, improving overall farm safety.
2. Precision Pruning Driven by AI Vision
· Uses AI-driven selection for optimal cutting points
· Decisions are made scientifically - based on branch health, orientation, and bud data - offering consistent and superior pruning compared to manual labor.
3. Labor Efficiency & Scalability
· Addresses labor shortages by reducing reliance on skilled seasonal workers.
· A single tractor-mounted system with multiple robotic arms can prune up to ~2 hectares daily.
4. 24/7 Autonomous Operation
· Runs continuously, regardless of daylight or shift schedules, mirroring the output of a 4-person crew.
5. Cost Savings & Labor Reallocation
· Potentially saves on up to 25% of annual labor costs tied to pruning.
· Frees expert workers to focus on high-value tasks like ecological planning and canopy management.
6. Operational Consistency & Analytics
· AI ensures consistent cut placement, improving fruit quality and crop uniformity.
· Real-time data feeds into analytics dashboards for tracking performance and optimizing future pruning cycles.
Summary
Robotic Perception’s pruning robot offers a powerful tool for growers by enhancing safety, reducing labor demand, improving precision and consistency, enabling continuous operations, cutting costs, and supporting sustainability. Its use of advanced vision systems, AI, and autonomous robotics positions it as an ideal solution to modern challenges in fruit agriculture.
Applications
The target market for Robotic Perception’s automatic pruning robot includes:
1. Commercial Vineyard and Orchard Growers
- o Specifically designed for spur pruning and cane pruning in vineyards and fruit orchards (grapes, apples, pears and other deciduous trees)
- o Ideal for sizable operations - machines are capable of pruning up to 2 hectares per day.
2. Regions with Labor Constraints
- o Initially targeting Europe and North America
- o But also expanding to other areas experiencing labor shortages or high wage costs.
3. Agricultural Cooperatives & Equipment Rental Schemes
- o Aimed at groups like CUMA in France and Confagricoltura in Italy, which can offer the system as a service to members.
- o Available both as sellable equipment and also as robotics-as-a-service solution .
4. Progressive Growers Valuing Tech-Driven Efficiency
- o Early adopters – particularly large-scale or high-tech growers – drawn to the benefits of 24/7 AI performance, consistent pruning output, reduced labor overhead, enhanced sustainability, and real-time data analytics dashboards.
Summary
The core customers are commercial-scale vineyard and orchard operators facing labor challenges. Through both equipment sales and service models via agricultural cooperatives, Robotic Perception aims to reach growers who seek efficiency, precision, and autonomy in pruning operations.