Israeli startup Tevel Aerobotics Technologies has developed flying autonomous robots (FARs) that take off from a base station, pluck only ripe fruits from a tree, and carefully lower them to be harvested.
Because they are not human, Tevel picking robots can work 24/7 during the harvest. They never get tired and they never need to go out for coffee or to go to the bathroom.
Each FAR is equipped with advanced artificial intelligence (AI) to help determine if a particular fruit is ready to be harvested; the best way to twist and roll the fruit from a branch with a meter long mechanical hand; and whether it has flaws that make it unmarketable and therefore should be thrown out.
“The robots are equipped with sensors and cameras,” Tevel CEO Yaniv Maor tells ISRAEL21c.
