Monash apple-harvesting robot wins excellence award

Photo credit: The Weekly Times

A fruit-harvesting robot named MARS (Monash Apple Retrieving System) developed by Associate Professor Chao Chen and team in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering has won Victorian Project of the Year at the 2023 Engineers Australia Excellence Awards.

Engineers Australia noted that MARS addresses the apple industry's challenges by offering a dependable solution that minimises manual labour dependency, countering labour shortages, and alleviating notable occupational health and safety concerns. The robot's advanced 'soft gripper' technology coupled with its visionary system ensures precise detection and picking of ripe fruit.

Gaining considerable global recognition within the fruit-growing sector, MARS holds the promise of revolutionizing the orchard industry, with potential applicability to other fruits.

The MARS project will now go on to represent Victoria at Engineers Australia national awards to be announced on Wednesday 29 November.