ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ

A team of researchers from the Soft Robotics for Human Cooperation and Rehabilitation Lab at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT-Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia) in Genova has conceived and developed Frasky, a new robotic prototype able to navigate and perform operations autonomously within vineyards.

Coordinated by IIT researcher Manuel G. Catalano, the project results from the collaboration with the partners involved in "JOiiNT LAB," the joint lab aiming at creating a synergy between research and industry, thus comprising IIT and the industrial ecosystem in the Bergamo area, including Consorzio Intellimech, Confindustria Bergamo, the University of Bergamo, and Kilometro Rosso Innovation District. Frasky's main goal is to address the challenges that the agricultural sector is facing nowadays, such as environmental sustainability and labor shortages, by combining robotics and artificial intelligence.

"Integrating robotics and artificial intelligence in agriculture allows us to develop increasingly advanced models of precision farming," says Manuel G. Catalano, IIT researcher and JOiiNT LAB coordinator.

"For instance, it enables more efficient and targeted use of resources, reduces environmental impact, and offers concrete support to farmers and wine producers. These are important elements if we consider that the sector is affected by growing labor shortages and challenges posed by climate change.

"It is an ambitious goal, and it is possible thanks to the cooperation between research institutions, academia, and industry, where diverse perspectives and expertise play a role, which are essential to the success of this project."

Frasky is a prototype robot intended for moving and interacting within agricultural environments. It is equipped with a robotic arm and a hand for manipulating plants and fruit. Within the arm, an integrated camera allows the system to map its surroundings and detect obstacles and specific objects, such as grape clusters, with precision.

The setup is mounted on a commercially available mobile platform designed for outdoor navigation, with four motorized wheels. The complete system is modular and flexible in both hardware and software, enabling the integration of tools according to the needs of farmers. For instance, Frasky's robotic hand includes a nozzle for applying selective treatments to the vineyard.

At the core of its operating abilities is software developed by the IIT team; it is divided into three main modules: navigation, which enables the robot to orient itself in space and reach points of interest while avoiding obstacles; perception, which permits environmental analysis and recognition of grape clusters; and manipulation, which guides the movements of the robotic arm during its tasks.

The data collected by the perception module can be used both for creating a map of the vineyard and supporting the manipulation module, enabling targeted actions such as grasping grape bunches, visual inspection, or application of treatments.

The software provides an intuitive graphical interface through which an operator can send commands and monitor the robot's operations in real time, thus managing the entire system.

Frasky offers several advantages: more precise digital monitoring of crops; assistance to farmers with repetitive tasks; greater accuracy in treatment application in vineyards, reducing waste. All of this translates into tangible benefits for the environment and worker health, by limiting human exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.

Designing a robot capable of working in real-world agricultural environments presents significant technical challenges.

First, the terrain is uneven, and the environment is subject to changes, such as seasonal shifts, weather conditions, and plant growth. Foliage can become denser and more voluminous over time, reducing visibility, impeding access to plants and limiting the robot's movement.

Moreover, the robotic system must be able to move autonomously, avoid obstacles and collect data on crop conditions, while performing interventions directly on the plants. The manipulation of fruit is an operation which requires dexterity and gentleness, because fruit is deformable and easily damaged.

In order to respond to all these challenges, Frasky was initially tested in the lab on an artificial vineyard and then validated through field demonstrations in a real vineyard in Bergamo: "Le Corne" vineyard in Grumello del Monte (Bergamo). These tests demonstrated the platform's ability to move, map the environment, and autonomously apply treatments.

"We are currently working to make Frasky even more flexible, autonomous, and capable of adapting to various agricultural contexts, which present high complexity by their nature," adds Francesca Negrello, IIT researcher and Technology Manager of JOiiNT LAB.

"Our goal is to expand the robot's perception and manipulation capabilities to other tasks beyond those already validated, so that it can operate alongside viticulturists, supporting them in production monitoring and in more repetitive and burdensome activities."

"Collaboration between research and industry, as in JOiiNT LAB, is key to fostering technological innovation and nurturing new professional skills," continues Fabio Previdi, Full Professor at the University of Bergamo.

"Working closely with companies offers our students concrete interdisciplinary experiences, which are essential for developing the skills required to work in the industry and preparing them for the challenges of digital transformation. Our students, therefore, are directly involved in the projects, actively contributing to the development of advanced solutions in the labs and then transferring them outside the labs, generating benefits both for companies and the academic system."

"The technologies that are developed for industry through joint work between research and industry have a cross-cutting impact which goes well beyond the manufacturing sector. Tangible outcomes are produced across the region," concludes Stefano Ierace, Director of the Consorzio Intellimech.

"Such projects promote new training experiences for students and young professionals, and offer real opportunities to explore innovative solutions, with benefits extending to the entire production chain and the local social system."