Autonomous harvesting robot for oil palm plantation: a review

Teoh, Kean Hao and Lai, Nai Shyan (2024) Autonomous harvesting robot for oil palm plantation: a review. Journal of Oil Palm Research (Malaysia), 36. pp. 349-366. ISSN 2811-4701

Due to the continuous labour crisis, the oil palm industry in Malaysia has lost an estimated worth of RM10.46 billion unharvested fruit in the first five months of the year 2022. A robotic system in automating the harvesting process of the oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB) is proposed to solve the existing problems related to oil palm harvesting and further enhance the development of oil palm harvesting technologies. This article aims to review the six identified key technologies for solving the technological challenges in the development of this robotic system. The key technologies are as follows: (1) Oil palm ripeness detection; (2) oil palm cutting mechanism; (3) tree climbing mechanism; (4) motion trajectory planning for fruit harvesting manipulator; (5) localisation; (6) navigation and obstacle avoidance. Six criteria for successful implementation of the proposed harvesting robot are discussed followed by recommendations on the type of technology used. The integration of these technologies as a complete robotic system is analysed. Prediction on the trend of technological development in oil palm harvesting is discussed

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Abstract

Due to the continuous labour crisis, the oil palm industry in Malaysia has lost an estimated worth of RM10.46 billion unharvested fruit in the first five months of the year 2022. A robotic system in automating the harvesting process of the oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB) is proposed to solve the existing problems related to oil palm harvesting and further enhance the development of oil palm harvesting technologies. This article aims to review the six identified key technologies for solving the technological challenges in the development of this robotic system. The key technologies are as follows: (1) Oil palm ripeness detection; (2) oil palm cutting mechanism; (3) tree climbing mechanism; (4) motion trajectory planning for fruit harvesting manipulator; (5) localisation; (6) navigation and obstacle avoidance. Six criteria for successful implementation of the proposed harvesting robot are discussed followed by recommendations on the type of technology used. The integration of these technologies as a complete robotic system is analysed. Prediction on the trend of technological development in oil palm harvesting is discussed

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	oil palms
AGROVOC Term:	agriculture
AGROVOC Term:	harvesting
AGROVOC Term:	automation
AGROVOC Term:	mechanization
AGROVOC Term:	robots
AGROVOC Term:	navigation
AGROVOC Term:	precision agriculture
AGROVOC Term:	labour shortage
AGROVOC Term:	economic impact
Geographical Term:	Malaysia
Depositing User:	Nor Hasnita Abdul Samat
Date Deposited:	07 May 2026 01:41
Last Modified:	07 May 2026 01:41
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/3391

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