September 2024, Netherlands – Inaho’s Tomato Robot is showing remarkable results in trials taking place in Dutch greenhouses, marking a significant step forward for automation in agriculture. Launched in May 2023, the robot is designed to automate the harvesting of snack tomatoes and has seen major improvements in both speed and accuracy since its introduction.
One of the key upgrades is the doubling of its harvesting speed, which makes it a highly efficient tool for greenhouse farmers facing labor shortages. The robot’s enhanced image recognition system has also improved its precision, greatly reducing errors like picking unripe green tomatoes or dropping harvested ones. This improved accuracy not only helps reduce waste but also ensures that only ripe produce is harvested, improving overall quality.
In addition to performance improvements, the physical design of the robot has been streamlined. The new, slimmer design allows the robot to navigate easily through narrow greenhouse aisles, ensuring that it can function in spaces where other machines might struggle. This makes it more practical and adaptable for real-world agricultural operations.
With labor shortages and rising costs affecting farmers globally, automation is increasingly seen as a solution to these challenges. Inaho’s Tomato Robot provides a promising answer, helping farmers reduce their reliance on human labor while maintaining high productivity and quality. As a result, Inaho is now seeking additional agricultural partners to expand the robot’s reach and prepare it for commercial release.
The trial results from the Netherlands show the potential of robotics in agriculture, particularly for high-labor tasks like harvesting. As technology continues to improve, Inaho’s robot could lead the way in automating other aspects of farming as well, offering a glimpse into the future of agriculture.
For more information, visit Inaho’s press release (https://en.inaho.co/1793/)
