By Blake Jackson
A team of Penn State researchers has secured a $601,125 grant from the USDA to develop a robotic precision spraying system for apple orchards.
This innovative technology aims to address the challenges posed by traditional blossom thinning methods, which are labor-intensive and environmentally harmful.
“During the blossom period, apple trees generally produce a large number of flowers, which later can be pollinated to set fruit,” said team leader Long He, associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering in the College of Agricultural Sciences. “Each flower requires resource allocation from the tree to grow properly and turn into an apple fruit. However, when the number of flowers is too high, an abundance of small, low-quality apples can result that may be unworthy for sale. Therefore, it is very important to adjust the number of flowers to set fruits.”
Traditionally, blossom thinning was done manually, but this method is impractical for large orchards. Chemical thinning is a more efficient approach, but it often involves excessive chemical use.
The new robotic system will use advanced machine vision and artificial intelligence to precisely target and apply chemical thinner to flower clusters, minimizing waste and environmental impact.
“The expected outcome of this project will be a precision crop load management strategy with an integrated spraying system that can conduct chemical blossom thinning with high precision and significant chemical-usage reduction,” Long He said. “Attainment and adoption of such a system will have a significant positive impact on crop management and improving the long-term economic and environmental sustainability of the U.S. tree fruit industry.”
The research team, which includes Shirin Ghatrehsamani, Paul Heinemann, and James Schupp, aims to develop a system that can autonomously navigate orchards and accurately manage crop loads.
Photo Credit: istock-rixipix
Categories: Pennsylvania, Crops, Fruits and Vegetables, Government & Policy