Fruit picking robots are advanced robotic systems that help harvest fruits efficiently and precisely. Equipped with computer vision, machine learning, and grasping technologies, these robots can identify ripe fruits, pick them precisely without causing any damage, and sort them accordingly. Strawberry, apple, citrus fruits etc are common crops harvested by such robots. Advancing robotics and automation is enabling the development of multi-arm fruit picking robots that can work around the clock and optimise harvest yields for farmers.
The global Fruit Picking Robots Market is estimated to be valued at US$ 728.07 Mn in 2023 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 40% over the forecast period 2023 to 2030, as highlighted in a new report published by Coherent Market Insights.
Market Dynamics:
Advanced automation and precision harvesting is expected to flourish the fruit picking robots market during the forecast period. Harvesting fruits manually is a labor intensive and time consuming process. Moreover, there is always a shortage of farm labor. Fruit picking robots address both these issues. They can harvest fruits efficiently and precisely according to size, color and ripeness levels without causing any damage. This optimises harvest yields for farmers. Another driver is precision harvesting which ensures only ripe fruits are plucked, thus minimizing wastage. Fruit picking robots harvest fruits one by one with their computer vision and grasping technologies without disturbing the remaining crops. This increases the profit margins for farms.
Segment Analysis
The global fruit picking robots market is segmented based on type and application. Based on type, picking robots segment dominates the market with around 65% share as these robots can efficiently pick varieties of fruits without damaging the fruit or plant. They are integrated with computer vision, gripping mechanisms and sensors that allow them to navigate through orchards and selectively pick ripe fruits minimizing wastage.
PEST Analysis
Political: Fruit picking is a labor-intensive process involving deployment of thousands of workers. Implementation of robotics can reduce dependency on seasonal migrant workers and ensure timely harvests by avoiding delays. This aligns well with the political focus on automation and job creation.
Economic: Labor costs associated with fruit harvesting have risen sharply. Robots offer a cost-effective alternative by increasing productivity and reducing costs compared to human pickers. The falling prices of hardware, AI and sensors will further improve the business case for automated fruit harvesting.
Social: Younger generations are less attracted to agricultural jobs. Robots can address the shortage of human workers and help farms remain competitive. They also ensure steady supply of fruits through efficient harvesting while reducing chances of COVID infections among field staff.
Technological: Advanced computer vision, tactile sensors, AI and low-cost robotic technologies enable precise fruit detection and selective harvesting without damage. Ongoing R&D is improving robot intelligence, adaptability and operation times. 5G implementation will enhance communication between machines supporting large commercial deployments.
Key Takeaways
The Global Fruit Picking Robots Market Share is expected to witness high growth over the forecast period driven by increasing labor costs and shortage of human workforce for fruit harvesting.
Regional analysis: North America is the largest and fastest growing regional market. USA and Canada are early adopters and produce large quantities of apples, cherries, berries and citrus. Commercial deployments are scaling up in economically important orchards.
Key players: Key players operating in the fruit picking robots market are Abbott Laboratories (US), Medtronic PLC (Ireland), DexCom, Inc. (US), iRhythm Technologies, Inc. (US), and Texas Instruments Inc. (US). These players are focusing on developing intelligent and adaptive harvesting robots capable of identifying and gently harvesting over 10 fruits per minute with near-human level intelligence.