Optimizing Orchard Systems for Efficient Robot–Tree Interaction

Co-designing tree architecture, canopy management, orchard layout and robot design for improved robotic accessibility, yield and fruit quality.

Field discussion among flowering trees trained on a trellis

The challenge

Orchards, being biological systems, pose a lot of variability and uncertainty. We investigate how horticultural practices can make robotic work more reliable without compromising long-term tree health or production.

What we do ?

We study the physical relationships that determine whether robots can see, reach and safely interact with crops.

Robot-compatible canopy architectures

Pruning and training strategies

Branch accessibility and orientation

Canopy density and occlusion

Digital Twins for Virtual Orchards for Simulated Phenotyping

Virtual evaluation

Digital twins and simulation let teams compare designs across seasons before committing field resources.

Crop-load distribution

Fruit quality and yield

Virtual orchards

Robot–canopy simulation

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