Continuous robotic arm for automatic harvesting and inspection with applications in vertical agriculture – PYTHON

P Y T H O N

Title: CONTINUOUS ROBOTIC ARM FOR AUTOMATIC HARVESTING AND INSPECTION WITH APPLICATIONS IN VERTICAL AGRICULTURE

Project code: PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2019-4939
Project type: Experimental – Demonstrative Project (PED)
Funding authority: UEFISCDI
Beneficiary: Technical University of Cluj-Napoca
Duration of the contract: 03.08.2020 – 02.08.2022
Director: Assoc. Prof. Olimpiu HANCU, Phd, Eng.

The “Python” project proposes the development of a continuous robotic arm, based on an innovative and eco-friendly fluidic architecture, intended for automatic harvesting and spectral inspection, useful in vertical farming. The novelty of the project and most relevant contribution is related to the proposed technology that allows the development of a continuous manipulator arm (of snake type) characterized by suppleness, strong handling force (due to fluid power actuating system), hyper dexterity (due to continuum architecture of arm) and large workspace.  The proposed technology, implemented in a more supple architecture, can also be extended to industrial tasks (handling, inspection, maintenance, repair operations) and medical applications.