# AI-Powered Harvesting Robots The 'Vegebot' Automatically Determines When Veggies are Ready By Michael Hemsworth | Published 2019-07-17 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vegebot References: [foodbev](https://www.foodbev.com/news/new-vegebot-uses-machine-learning-to-pick-iceberg-lettuce/) & [cam.ac.uk](https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/robot-uses-machine-learning-to-harvest-lettuce) The 'Vegebot' has been developed by a team of engineers at the [University of Cambridge](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/university-of-edinburgh) to help accelerate the farming capabilities of landowners and bring automation into the harvesting process. Powered by artificial intelligence (AI), the robot utilizes a complex system to identify when, in this case, a head of iceberg lettuce is ready to be harvested. The unit then utilizes a cutting system and a firm yet gentle handling arm to harvest the crop without the need for any manual work to be performed. The capabilities of the 'Vegebot' were explained by co-author Simon Birrell from the University of Cambridge's [Department of Engineering](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/incheon-national-university) who said "Every field is different, every lettuce is different, but if we can make a [robotic harvester](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/agriculture-robot) work with iceberg lettuce, we could also make it work with many other crops." ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.1/10 - Popularity: 55% | Activity: 31% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [AI](https://www.trendhunter.com/ai) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **AI-powered Harvesting Robots:** The development of AI-powered harvesting robots presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for the agriculture industry. - **Automation in Farming:** The integration of automation technologies in farming processes creates disruptive innovation opportunities for increased efficiency and productivity. - **Robotic Crop Harvesting:** The advancement of robotic systems for crop harvesting offers a disruptive innovation opportunity for reducing manual labor and enhancing crop yield. ### Where This Applies - **Agriculture:** The use of AI-powered harvesting robots in the agriculture industry can revolutionize crop harvesting processes. - **Robotics:** The development of AI-powered robots for crop harvesting opens up disruptive innovation opportunities within the robotics industry. - **Artificial Intelligence:** The application of artificial intelligence in the farming industry through robots offers a disruptive innovation opportunity for intelligent automation. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [AI-Powered Weeding Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/weeding-robot.md) - [Robot Tomato Harvesters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/syngeta-vegetable-seeds.md) - [Automated Farming Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/farming-robots.md) - [Precision Robotic Weeding Services](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/weeding-service.md) - [Greenhouse-Roving Agricultural Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/greenhouseroving-agricultural-robot.md) - [Versatile AI Gardening Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/verdie.md) - [Crop-Scouting Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cropscouting-robot.md) - [Autonomous Weed-Control Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/large-plant-model.md) - [Automated Multipurpose Farming Vehicles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/autonomous-farming-vehicle.md)