Fruit picking might sound simple, but it’s incredibly hard to automate. Each apple or pear is slightly different and a farmer knows how to judge ripeness, adjust grip, and twist just the right way to avoid bruising the fruit. Keeping this in mind, Eurecat’s team developed an affordable, handheld device that helps capture those exact movements. Instead of complex lab setups, their system allows people to demonstrate natural harvesting actions right in the orchard.
What makes this hand-held gripper stand out is its simplicity and practicality. The device records a single video of someone picking multiple fruits, then uses smart software to automatically break that down into separate learning moments for the robot. It also combines sensors and external cameras to track the hand’s movements with accuracy, even in messy, unpredictable outdoor environments.
The end result is a low-cost tool that brings human expertise directly into robotic training. Eurecat tested the system in a real apple orchard, and the robot was able to reproduce picking movements much more accurately than before. The team’s work brings us closer to a future where robots can support farmers by taking on repetitive or physically demanding tasks—without losing the human touch.
