Nanovel introduces cost-competitive robot for citrus harvesting
Israel-based Nanovel has introduced an autonomous fruit-harvesting robot capable of picking citrus fruit for the fresh market in dense foliage. The system features a multi-arm platform, which will initially be towed by a tractor.
Upcoming field trials for orange picking are scheduled to take place in Israel this December. Nanovel has also entered into a strategic partnership with the California Citrus Research Board to conduct a series of field trials with major citrus growers in California, set to begin in the second quarter of 2025.
The trials in California not only will test the machine’s effectiveness, but also collect data to refine the technology further. The immediate feedback of local growers will enable Nanovel to tailor its system to make sure it suits the specific needs of the California citrus industry.
Nanovel will also showcase the fruit-harvesting robot at the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit in London between 30 September and 1 October. “We will be happy to collaborate with growers for pilots for the 2025 season”, Isaac Mazor, CEO of Nanovel says.
“We are inviting growers to join our interest list, which will provide them with updates on product availability as it expands to various territories. We will release detailed pricing information to interested growers.” Nanovel’s goal is to deploy its solution into major global citrus markets, particularly in the U.S. and Southern European countries like Spain and Italy.
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Continuous operation
The robotic system operates entirely on electric power generated by the towing tractor. With a six-arm configuration, the robot is designed to pick approximately one bin of oranges, weighing 400 kilograms, per hour.
It is optimised for continuous operation, both day and night, and can pick up to 20 bins per full workday. “This solution provides growers facing shortage of farm labour with much higher predictability and reliability when it comes to harvest scheduling”, Mazor emphasises.
The current model, tailored for harvesting fresh-market oranges, is equipped with six robotic arms. In addition to the robotic arms, the system features a conveying system and bin replacement mechanism, ensuring gentle handling of the harvested fruit from the tree to the bin.
The robot can currently harvest fruit at a height of up to up to 3 metres, with potential for future models to extend this range. Furthermore, the AI-driven system incorporates selective picking based on both size and colour. “This ensures the highest quality of fruit is harvested”, Mazor says.
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A modular design
Each arm of the robot uses a patented end-effector with a vacuum gripper to cradle the fruit and then trim the stems using cutters without damaging the fruit. The fruit is then transported via conveyor belts to bins.
The robot uses advanced computing to deliver real-time, AI-driven data necessary for fruit picking. Additionally, the real-time collection of harvest data by the system, delivers invaluable insights that can be used for packing and marketing activities and can also provide important agronomic insights to growers.
The system’s general design is modular, allowing for configurations between 4 and 8 arms and different maximum picking heights, depending on the type of fruit and orchard specifications. The end-effector is configured based on the fruit sizes. This flexibility is important for optimising efficiency across different applications, Mazor says.
Nanovel plans to integrate an internal driving unit within two years. Following this enhancement, autonomous navigation capabilities will be introduced as the next step in its product development roadmap. This phased approach will progressively increase the system’s efficiency and autonomy, further reducing the need for human intervention over time.
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Cost-competitive
Profitability and labour availability are key concerns for growers, according to CEO Mazor. “Given the ongoing global labour shortages and the rising costs of farm labour, particularly in markets like California, our robotic system is already projected to be cost-competitive with human labour. Labour shortages are not only raising costs but are also emphasising the urgent need for automated solutions.”
Furthermore, automating the harvesting process helps avoid the dangerous task of labourers picking fruit while on ladders. This alone supports an improvement in worker safety and reduces the risk of accidents and injuries.
The robot will be sold per unit, with Nanovel providing comprehensive training, guidance and necessary support to ensure growers maximise the benefits of the system. The company plans to expand the robot’s picking capabilities to additional citrus varieties, such as lemons, by next year. Beyond citrus, Nanovel is currently evaluating other fruit varieties, including avocados, mangos, and various stone fruit varieties, for future product lines.
Nanovel was established in 2018 by CEO Isaac Mazor, a successful serial entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in technology innovation, AI, computer vision, and robotics. Mazor was the Founder and CEO of Jordan Valley Semiconductors, which was acquired by Bruker International in 2015.
