Banana Industry Turns To Robots And AI For ‘Dangerous’ Packing-Shed Task Of Cutting Fruit From Stem
“Scientists in Australia are collaborating with the banana industry to develop a robotic arm prototype to automate the labor-intensive process of de-handing bananas from their stalks. The initiative, led by QUT’s Centre for Robotics in consultation with the Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC), seeks to address challenges such as labor shortages and injuries associated with manual de-handing. Despite previous global attempts at automating banana production proving unsuccessful, the project emphasizes a collaborative approach between researchers and farmers to ensure the technology meets practical needs and is economically viable for widespread adoption in banana farms across Australia. Source: Daily Trust
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Scientists and the Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) are collaborating to innovate banana farming with a prototype robot arm designed to automate the labor-intensive task of de-handling bananas. De-handing, the process of removing banana hands from the stem, is crucial but challenging due to its repetitive nature and potential for injuries, exacerbating labor shortages in the industry.
Chris Lehnert from QUT’s Center for Robotics highlighted the industry’s struggles with finding labor for such tasks, emphasizing the need for technological solutions. The ABGC sees automation as feasible, particularly for cutting bananas, which could alleviate the reliance on manual labor. Despite previous global attempts to automate banana production, success has been elusive. However, the collaboration aims to overcome past challenges by ensuring the technology meets farmers’ practical needs and is financially viable. ABGC’s research and development manager, Rosie Godwin, stressed the importance of industry-scientist partnerships for developing effective solutions.
This initiative reflects a proactive approach to modernizing banana farming in Australia, potentially transforming operations and addressing industry challenges like labor availability and efficiency.
