This book shares the latest findings on this topic, systematically introduces readers to advances made in robotic harvesting around the globe, and explores the relations between the development of robotic harvesting and the respective social/economic conditions and agricultural business patterns in various countries/regions. Due to the unstructured setting it is used in, and to the significant differences between individual fruit and vegetable targets, robotic harvesting is currently considered to be one of the most challenging robotics technologies. Accordingly, research into this area involves the integration of various aspects, including biomechanics, optimization design, advanced perception and intelligent control.

In addition to rapid and damage-free robotic harvesting, which reflects the multidisciplinary nature of the topic, further aspects addressed include gripping collisions with viscoelastic objects, using lasers to cut plant material, plant-fruit response to vacuum sucking and pulling, and performance probability distribution. Highlighting outstanding innovations and reflecting the latest advances in intelligent agricultural equipment in China, the book offers a unique and valuable resource.

Autorentext

Dr. Jizhan Liu received his PhD degree from Jiangsu University in 2010 and completed cooperative research at the Robotics and Automation Laboratory of Michigan State University, USA, in 2013. He is currently a professor and doctoral supervisor at the College of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University. His main research interests are in agricultural robotics and intelligent equipment for greenhouses & orchards, including robotic seedling transplanting, pesticide spraying, pollinating, fruit harvesting, etc. Zhiguo Li received his PhD degree from Jiangsu University in 2011 and completed cooperative research at the University of Birmingham, UK, as a postdoc, supported by a Marie Curie Fellowship. He is currently a professor and doctoral supervisor at Northwest A&F University. His main research interests are in the robotic harvesting and grading of fruits.

Prof. Pingping Li is a senior scientist in agricultural engineering and a former Vice President of Jiangsu University and Nanjing Forestry University. She is also a former Vice President of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering and Chinese Society for Agricultural Machinery. She is currently a doctoral supervisor at Nanjing Forestry University. Her main research interests are in science and engineering for protected agriculture.

Inhalt
History and Present Situations of Robotic Harvesting Technology: A Review.- Damage and Damage-Free Harvesting in Robotic Operation.- The Physical and Mechanical Properties of Tomato Fruit and Stem.- Development of Damage-Free Hand-Arm System for Tomato Harvesting.- Mathematical Modeling of Speedy and Flexible Gripping of Fruit.- Simulation of Flexible Robotic Gripping of Fruit.- Modeling of the Vacuum Sucked Pulling of Tomato Fruit.- Fruit Detaching Methods for Robotic Damage-Free Tomato Harvesting.- Control Optimization and Test Study.