KAUST develops robotic system to Improve date palm harvesting

Arab News

09-03-2025

RIYADH: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology is developing a new robotic system designed to automate date palm harvesting.
The related research, led by KAUST Assistant Prof. Shinkyu Park, focuses on automating key processes in date farming, such as harvesting, pollination and tree maintenance through artificial intelligence-powered robotics, and promises to produce larger yields of more nutritious dates.
In a press release, Park said the study sees the robots starting as apprentices and gradually honing their skills in date farming routines, quickly becoming experts.
Park aims to have his robotic farmers handle dates of various sizes and firmness while maximizing the harvest rate.
By operating and collecting data, the robots will improve their productivity by enhancing their capabilities for many of the tasks associated with date farming.
Field trials are scheduled to begin during the 2025 harvest season, with full operational capability expected within three years.
Park suggested that a robots-as-a-service business model, in which companies offer the use of their robots on a subscription contract basis, could allow smaller farmers to benefit from the technology without the burden of purchasing the robots outright.
'We are developing robotics technologies that support national interests. Our cost-effective automation solutions for the date palm industry are just one example,' Park added.
According to the press release, the robotic arms of the system will be able to move as quickly as a human farmer while precisely picking each date without damage — to itself or the fruit. By equipping them with high-precision visual sensors, the robotic farmers can distinguish individual dates, flowers, and tree structures to execute various farming tasks like harvesting, spraying, and pruning, which ensures the health, productivity, and longevity of the trees and reduces the risk of pest infestations and diseases.
Dates have been central to the Saudi diet for thousands of years. It is a major food product, with the value of date exports by the Kingdom increasing 10 percent between 2023 and 2024 and another 10 percent between 2023 and 2024, according to the press release.
The project is just one of many at KAUST that will benefit date farming and food security. At the end of 2024, the National Center for Palms and Dates signed an agreement to fund SR100 million ($25 million) to KAUST for innovations in the data sector
'I'm excited that this initiative extends beyond engineering solutions and cultivates research and development opportunities for local talent, contributing to the long-term sustainable educational and economic growth of the Kingdom,' Park said.