A Christchurch startup is exploring ways to include robots in fruit picking to end seasonal labour shortages. YieldTec is a young startup operating out of the Ministry of Awesome's Te Ōhaka, a startup incubator at Ara Institute of Canterbury. The new business is hoping to revolutionise the fruit picking game, specifically kiwifruit, using robots and a sophisticated tracking software. Supplied A kiwifruit picking robot could be the future of orchard work and help curb the worker shortage in the industry. YieldTec founder Khaled Salah said his PhD research on horticulture identified the need to retain a human element in fruit picking.

Source: Stuff January 28, 2020 16:01 UTC