China’s Humanoid Robots Become Tea Farmers

Chinese researchers have deployed humanoid robots for tea leaf harvesting and processing, replacing manual labor in select tea plantations. The robots, developed by a collaboration between a state-run agricultural institute and a robotics startup, utilize bipedal locomotion and dual-arm manipulation to navigate uneven terrain and perform precise plucking of tea shoots. Each robot is equipped with stereo cameras and LiDAR for real-time 3D mapping, enabling it to distinguish between tender leaves and older foliage with 95% accuracy. The system integrates a multi-stage gripper that applies controlled force to avoid damaging the crop. In field tests, a single humanoid robot harvested 8 kg of tea per hour, compared to 5 kg for an experienced worker, while maintaining consistent quality standards. The robots also process leaves by autonomously transporting them to drying and sorting stations. The project aims to address labor shortages in China’s tea industry, which faces a 20% annual decline in available farmworkers. The humanoid design allows the robot to operate in existing terraced fields without infrastructure modifications. Battery life supports 6 hours of continuous operation, with self-docking for recharging. The robots communicate via 5G to a central management system that tracks harvest volumes and equipment status. Researchers plan to reduce unit cost below $50,000 within two years to enable broad adoption by medium-sized farms.

Source: Yahoo Tech