New 3D Laser Scanner Developed for Harvesting Robots

Strawberries picked by robots? That future is getting closer as researchers at the University of Würzburg develop sophisticated 3D laser scanners to help machines "read" plants with unprecedented precision.

"There are already a few prototypes, but none of them are really good yet," explains robotics professor Andreas Nüchter, whose team created the new system for the Leibniz Institute in Potsdam.

The scanner, mounted on a conveyor station, circles 120 apple trees, projecting green, red, and infrared light to collect detailed spatial information and measure crucial physiological properties like water content.

"For the production of horticultural products, knowledge of the stage of ripeness is very important," says Dr. Manuela Zude-Sasse, noting this precision becomes increasingly vital as climate change creates more variable growing conditions.

The weather-resistant system will monitor the orchard until November 2025, gathering data that could transform harvesting technology. Though currently restricted to experimental use due to its powerful lasers, the research represents a significant step toward solving agricultural labor shortages through automation.