Jeddah, March 23, 2025 – The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is developing a new robotic system to automate date palm harvesting.
According to a press release from KAUST, this system aims to revolutionize agriculture and position Saudi Arabia as a leader in agricultural innovation. Led by KAUST Assistant Professor Shinkyu Park, the research focuses on automating essential date farming processes such as harvesting, pollination, and tree maintenance using AI-powered robotics, promising larger and more nutritious date yields.
Park's "robotic farmers" solution merges robotics for consistent farming and AI for improved efficiency. The system's robotic arms are designed to move as quickly as a human farmer while picking dates precisely without damaging the fruit. Equipped with high-precision visual sensors, these robotic farmers can identify individual dates, flowers, and tree structures, enabling tasks like harvesting, spraying, and pruning, promoting tree health, productivity, and longevity, while also minimizing the risk of pests and diseases.
Field trials are set to begin in the 2025 harvest season, with full operational capabilities expected within three years. Park proposed a Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) model, allowing smaller farmers to access the technology without having to purchase the robots outright.
This project is part of KAUST’s broader initiative to enhance date farming and food security, giving Saudi Arabia an edge in agricultural technology and expertise. It also attracts leaders in farming and robotics to the region, with laborers being the first to interact with the new technologies developed by Park and his team, as per the release.
"I am excited that this initiative goes beyond engineering solutions, fostering research and development opportunities for local talent and contributing to the Kingdom’s long-term sustainable educational and economic growth," Park stated.