New Robots Developed to Harvest Lettuce for First Time

A robot that can pick ripe strawberries at an expo in Tokyo in 2013. Photo: AFP
A robot that can pick ripe strawberries at an expo in Tokyo in 2013. Photo: AFP
TT
20

New Robots Developed to Harvest Lettuce for First Time

A robot that can pick ripe strawberries at an expo in Tokyo in 2013. Photo: AFP
A robot that can pick ripe strawberries at an expo in Tokyo in 2013. Photo: AFP

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a robot that harvests lettuce. Although the prototype named "Vegebot" is nowhere near as fast or efficient as a human worker, it can be considered an achievement in the agriculture robotics field, as described in a study published in the latest issue of The Journal of Field Robotics journal.

Crops such as potatoes and wheat have been harvested mechanically at scale for decades, but many other crops such as iceberg lettuce have to date resisted automation, for two reasons: they can be easily damaged and grow relatively flat to the ground, presenting a challenge for robotic harvesters. Yet, these two problems have been addressed with the new robot.

At the moment, harvesting is the only part of the lettuce life cycle that is done manually, and it's very physically demanding. The researchers also hope Vegebot will contribute to a reduction in costs.

The robot first identifies the 'target' crop within its field of vision, then determines whether particular lettuce is healthy and ready to be harvested, and finally cuts the lettuce from the rest of the plant without crushing it so that it is 'supermarket ready'.

The Vegebot has two main components: a computer vision system and a cutting system. The overhead camera on the Vegebot takes an image of the lettuce field and first identifies all the lettuces in the image, and then for each lettuce, classifies whether it should be harvested or not. Lettuce might be rejected because it's not yet mature, or it might have a disease that could spread to other lettuces in the harvest.

A second camera on the Vegebot is positioned near the cutting blade and helps ensure a smooth cut.

In an email he sent to Asharq Al-Awsat, co-author Josie Hughes admits that: "The robot is slower than human in lettuce harvesting. For a human, the entire process takes a couple of seconds, but it's a really challenging problem for a robot. However, reducing the dependency on humans may help shrink the expenditures, and that's why the new robot is considered economically efficient. "

"We've still got to speed our Vegebot up; however, we plan to market the prototype, which is still being tested before deploying it in fields."



Syria Seeks EU Help to Battle Massive Wildfires

FILE : A fire burns at a forest in Latakia province, Syria in this handout released by SANA on October 9, 2020. SANA/Handout via REUTERS
FILE : A fire burns at a forest in Latakia province, Syria in this handout released by SANA on October 9, 2020. SANA/Handout via REUTERS
TT
20

Syria Seeks EU Help to Battle Massive Wildfires

FILE : A fire burns at a forest in Latakia province, Syria in this handout released by SANA on October 9, 2020. SANA/Handout via REUTERS
FILE : A fire burns at a forest in Latakia province, Syria in this handout released by SANA on October 9, 2020. SANA/Handout via REUTERS

Syria’s minister of emergencies and disaster management on Tuesday requested support from the European Union to battle wildfires that have swept through a vast stretch of forested land.

The fires have been burning for six days, with Syrian emergency crews struggling to bring them under control amid strong winds and severe drought.

Neighboring countries Jordan, Lebanon and Türkiye have already dispatched firefighting teams to assist in the response.

“We asked the European Union for help in extinguishing the fires,” minister Raed al-Saleh said on X, adding Cyprus was expected to send aid on Tuesday, AFP reported.

“Fear of the fires spreading due to strong winds last night prompted us to evacuate 25 families to ensure their safety without any human casualties,” he added.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) office in Syria, the fires impacted “some 5,000 persons, including displacements, across 60 communities.”

An estimated 100 square kilometers (40 square miles) of forest and farmland -- more than three percent of Syria’s forest cover -- have burned, OCHA told AFP.

At least seven towns in Latakia province have been evacuated as a precaution.

Efforts to extinguish the fires have been hindered by “rugged terrain, the absence of firebreaks, strong winds, and the presence of mines and unexploded ordnance”, Saleh said.

With man-made climate change increasing the likelihood and intensity of droughts and wildfires worldwide, Syria has also been battered by heatwaves and low rainfall.

In June, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization said Syria had “not seen such bad climate conditions in 60 years.”