(June 10, 2015) A
project involving 3D camera technology currently being developed at the
University of Lincoln, UK, could result in a fully automatic robotic harvesting
system for broccoli.
The University of Lincoln was one of more than 70 UK
businesses and universities to share funding through the £70 million Agri-Tech
Catalyst, which aims to improve the development of agricultural technology in
the UK.
The project, which is jointly funded by BBSRC and Innovate
UK, will test whether 3D camera technology can be used to identify and select
when broccoli is ready for harvesting. This will be a key step towards the
development of a fully automatic robotic harvesting system for broccoli, which
will significantly reduce production costs. It has been praised as ‘world
leading’ by Farming Minister George Eustice.