Smart machines transform China's farms

Humanoid Tea-Picking Machine

Developed for premium tea plantations in Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Sichuan and Guizhou provinces, this intelligent harvesting machine uses machine vision, biomimetic mechanics and intelligent control to selectively pick spring and autumn tea buds.

Inspired by the movements of a human hand, its picking mechanism performs a "pinch, lift, store and release" sequence. An integrated "eye-brain-hand" system locates tender shoots despite obstruction from leaves and branches, enabling precise harvesting on flat and gently sloping plantations.

The equipment has been developed to address rising labor costs and an aging workforce in the labor-intensive tea industry. Future models are expected to feature multiple robotic arms and lighter designs.

Source: Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences