Robot Hand Outperforms Humans at Blackberry Harvesting
2025-07-29
Researchers at the University of Arkansas have developed a novel soft robotic gripper capable of harvesting blackberries more efficiently than humans. Inspired by the opening and closing of a tulip, the gripper features three soft fingers and force sensors to ensure gentle handling and prevent damage. By measuring the force used by human pickers, researchers optimized the gripper's picking parameters. While further development of computer vision and positioning technologies is needed, the gripper demonstrates potential to surpass human capabilities in efficiency and consistency, promising applications in other soft fruit harvesting and assistive technologies for people with limited mobility.
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automated harvesting