Automated grapevine pruning: an application of ecorobotics and precision agriculture within Spoke 3
In March, a field experiment was carried out on winter pruning in the vineyard, with an autonomous robotic system, consisting of a tracked robot surmounted by a robotic arm.
Winter pruning is a crucial intervention in the plant cycle and takes place during the vegetative rest of the vine, between the fall of the leaves and the beginning of the vegetative recovery in spring.
The use of technologies developed in RAISE allows this operation to be made more efficient and precise.
This research and technology transfer activity is part of Spoke 3 and falls within the applications of ecorobotics and precision agriculture.
The test was conducted in an experimental vineyard of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore of Piacenza, where the integration between the two guidance and recognition subsystems were tested together for the first time, thanks to the synergy between:
– The Dynamic Legged Systems lab (DLS) of the Italian Institute of Technology, responsible for the algorithm for identifying cutting points;
– Info Solution, which created the system for autonomous navigation of the tracked agricultural robot.
Autonomous driving is based on the use of multi-level LiDAR that is able to detect the distance and shape of objects in a three-dimensional environment, using a series of lasers that emit and receive light pulses. This type of system is particularly useful for creating 3D maps of complex environments or for obtaining detailed information on objects at different heights.
In this vineyard application, the system provides precise mapping of the environment in real time, allowing navigation that can adapt to the morphological changes of the plants.
The algorithm developed by IIT for the identification of cutting points, by the robotic arm, has been validated in the laboratory, on potted plants, and then in the open field, integrated with the on-board system.
This multidisciplinary approach represents a concrete step towards the intelligent automation of viticulture, in line with the mission of Spoke 3: promoting ecorobotics as an integrated approach for sustainable land management.
A special thanks goes to the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore of Piacenza for their availability and hospitality in the vineyard.
Credits: RAISE
