RoboCrops aims to accelerate robotics development in greenhouse horticulture

RoboCrops is to become an annual event, which brings high-tech companies and universities together with Dutch growers and investors. Professionals and students will be challenged in a program full of hackathons, knowledge sessions and matchmaking, which will take place simultaneously at the World Horti Center Naaldwijk and RoboHouse / TU Delft.

Accelerate development of robotics

The goal of RoboCrops is to accelerate the development of robotics in greenhouse horticulture. The event focuses on the hardware: sensors, robot arms, grippers, autonomous vehicles and the decision-supporting software that is needed to control the robots.

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The event is to explore and accelerate possibilities of robotics in horticulture. – Photo: Vormplus

During RoboCrops, robots and components can be classified into 3 groups. Those are “Sense” (sensors that allow the robot to observe the environment), “Think” (processing the data from sensors, often with the help of Artificial Intelligence / Augmented Reality) and “Act” (performing an action such as leaf cutting, picking vegetables or cut flowers).

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RoboCrops is to become an annual event, which brings high-tech companies and universities together with Dutch growers and investors. – Photo: Daniel Verkijk

Growers, tech companies and students

For growers, there is a program at the World Horti Center on April 23, in which they can witness an extensive and in-depth presentation of the state of affairs in the field of robotics development for greenhouse horticulture. Tech companies and universities will show what the technical possibilities and challenges are.

On both days, students in RoboHouse in Delft will take part in a major hackathon, organised by TU Delft and WUR. On April 24 they are to pitch their hacks for a professional jury at the World Horti Center.

Also read: Use of robots in greenhouse horticulture increasing