While various researchers and companies are working on robotic harvesting solutions, the OnePlanet Research Center is focusing on preserving the knowledge of expert growers, as mentioned by FutureFarming.

As growers retire, their invaluable expertise risks being lost. OnePlanet is digitizing real orchards and crop management decisions, creating twins and digital models to ensure expertise in pruning for future generations.

OnePlanet, a collaboration between Wageningen University & Research, Radboud University, Radboudumc, and imec, integrates the latest digital technologies and chip solutions into advanced data-driven solutions. The research program 'Digital Orchard' aims to develop solutions for preparing existing orchards, starting with apple orchards, for future food production.

OnePlanet has developed a farm-resistant sensor suite for creating digital orchard twins, using two individual RGB cameras for stereo vision, LiDAR for georeferencing, and SLAM technology.

This lightweight and versatile sensor suite, which can be mounted on vehicles or drones, scans orchards multiple times a year to monitor tree and fruit growth and evaluate the impact of pruning operations.

The digital twins serve as a basis for creating human pruning decision models, enabling the training of autonomous robotic pruners. The goal is to achieve precision pruning that can improve fruit production and reduce labor costs.

The unique sensor suite also holds potential for disease and yield prediction, precision spraying, and other applications in various types of fruits and berries. (Photo: Freepik)