The introduction of precision farming in vineyards could help winegrowers to increase production efficiency and the competitiveness of this important sector.
Today, the agricultural sector as a whole is under intense pressure. Farmers not only have to feed a growing world population, but also work more sustainably to protect the environment for future generations. Climate change also affects farming practices. Changes in weather patterns, droughts and floods can affect productivity. To meet these challenges and achieve more efficient production, farmers are increasingly turning to new technologies such as precision farming. Precision agriculture is an agricultural management strategy that uses tools such as artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics to ensure optimal crop health and quality,” explains BACCHUS project coordinator Zoe Doulgeri from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. Automated and smart selective harvesting, in particular, can lead to considerable improvements in productivity by leaving unripe crops in the field to ripen.
Spain has the largest area for wine in the EU |
Robots with advanced cognitive capabilities
One of the main objectives of the BACCHUS project team was to find ways to improve the monitoring and harvesting of grapes. The project team wanted to see if precision farming tools could be the key to carrying out these operations in a cost-effective and efficient way. We have developed two collaborative robots that couple the inspection and selective harvesting operations,” explains Doulgeri. They are equipped with high-tech sensors and analytical tools”. These tools include visual and hyperspectral imaging, which are used to map the field and monitor crops during the growing season to predict yields. In addition to inspecting crops and collecting data, one of the robots was also designed to perform bimanual harvesting operations. One of its arms was equipped with a gripper adaptable to the shape and size of the crop, while another contained a camera and a cutter to view and cut the stems. Finally, the robots were equipped with advanced cognitive capabilities and decision-making skills, allowing them to determine whether a crop should be harvested or left on the vine.
AI and sensing technology in vineyards
The prototype robot platform was trialled in a vineyard and applied to different grape types. This enabled the project team to assess how AI and sensory technology could be used to accurately determine the maturity of crops, and how harvesting robots could be used to selectively harvest grapes. The application of these innovations could help winemakers achieve significant cost savings, through cutting unnecessary labour costs and achieving increased quality and value in the final product. For Doulgeri and her team, this is also a question of improving the working conditions of farmers and labourers, through automating some of the back-breaking work involved in winemaking. “Next steps include further refining these technologies, based on some of the lessons we’ve learned from these deployments,” adds Doulgeri. “We also want to further develop our system in order to make it financially attractive.”
More information: CORDIS
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