A demonstration experiment was conducted in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture, to utilize a robot equipped with advanced technology used for lunar surface exploration to improve the efficiency of harvesting work in an apple orchard that is suffering from a shortage of bearers.
A venture company in Miyagi Prefecture is conducting a demonstration experiment, and a test operation of the robot was carried out at an apple orchard in Hirosaki City.
The robot uses the technology of the lunar surface exploration robot used in the space research and development of NASA = National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and can work even in fields with many unevenness.
The robot was controlled by a controller, and was moving while avoiding trees and carrying a basket of apples, about 5 kilograms.
The robot is also equipped with an automatic driving function, which means that it can automatically carry the basket to a designated location such as a warehouse.
In the future, the company will make improvements such as lifting and lowering functions of the loading platform and the ability to charge the battery at home, and will rent it out to farmers for a fee from April next year.
Tamir Bloom, CEO of the venture company Kisui TECH, said, "I want to realize a robot that can reduce the burden on farmers as the labor shortage and aging progresses."
Ms. Kokiko Ichinohe, an apple farmer, said, "I'm always short of manpower, so it's helpful to be able to carry the apples automatically."