Team MSUAgRobot developed an AI-enhanced autonomous strawberry harvesting robot. It features an adaptable base that can adjust to fields of any width, making it suitable for various farming setups. The robot uses AI to determine if a strawberry is ripe, ensuring it only picks fruit at the perfect stage. It also relies on advanced algorithms to control the kinematics of the robotic arm, allowing for precise and efficient movements. Computer vision plays a key role in helping the robot identify and locate strawberries, as well as navigating the field autonomously.

Labor shortages make it difficult to find enough workers during peak strawberry harvest season. Picking strawberries manually takes a lot of time and effort, and misjudging which fruits are ripe often leads to waste. Traditional robotic solutions are not ideal because they are designed to work in specific field layouts, which are costly to implement. Additionally, these robots often damage strawberries during harvesting, reducing the yield quantity.