Expert Answers | Can robots pick apples?

Robotics expert Joe Davidson is part of the team working on robots that harvest fruit like apples, sweet cherries and blueberries. He explains how their robot picks apples, why they are working on agricultural robots and what the challenges are for apple-picking robots.

Learn more about robotics and AI at Oregon State University: https://beav.es/explore

Joe Davidson is an associate professor of robotics at Oregon State University and an expert in robotic manipulation and field robotics.

Areas of specialization
• Agricultural robots
• Underwater robotics

Education
• B.S. Arabic and International Politics, United States Military Academy at West Point, 2004
• M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Washington State University, 2013
• Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, Washington State University, 2016
• Postdoctoral Research Associate, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2016-18

Accomplishments
• 70+ published papers.
• Co-PI on USDA-funded AI Institute for Transforming Workforce and Decision Support.
• Head of the Intelligent Machines and Materials Lab at Oregon State University.

Learn more about Joe Davidson: https://engineering.oregonstate.edu/p...

0:00 - Introduction
0:20 - Robot gripper
0:50 - Can your robot pick an apple?
1:15 - Will farm robots take jobs from people?
1:28 - What is hard about making fruit-picking robots?
2:25 - Why work on agricultural robots?
2:48 - Are agricultural robots new?