New soft robot hand picks ripe fruit with near-100% accuracy

New soft robot hand picks ripe fruit with near-100% accuracy

Researchers have developed a soft robotic gripper that can inspect fruit for ripeness and harvest it without causing damage, a capability that could help reduce food waste and improve harvesting efficiency. The device uses soft silicone and polyurethane fingers equipped with multiple sensors to measure a fruit’s size, shape, color and firmness before deciding whether it is ready to be picked. The system was tested on strawberries and can remove …

WVU researcher develops robot that could transform West Virginia strawberry farming

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A groundbreaking robotic harvesting technology, developed with the help of a West Virginia University researcher, could one day transform how strawberries and other delicate fruits are grown and harvested in West Virginia, reducing food waste while helping farmers deliver higher-quality produce to consumers. The innovation comes as strawberry production continues to grow in popularity across West Virginia, where the state’s c…

WVU researcher develops soft and ‘squishy’ robotic hand for harvesting delicate fruits like strawberries

A new robotic gripper designed to pick fruit could mean supermarket shoppers enjoy better quality produce as well as new options like pawpaws, a West Virginia University researcher said.Anand Mishra, assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering at the WVU Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, was part of a team of roboticists behind the development of a soft gripper capable …