The project focuses on developing a mobile robot for harvesting strawberries. The system uses a two-level approach: the mobile platform handles navigation between rows, while a manipulator performs precise picking of individual berries.
The current prototype features a 3-axis manipulator with a flat gripper, though a 6-axis version is planned. The platform utilizes magnetic limit switches and encoders for movement control.
Navigation is based on a grid system where each cell represents a 1-meter distance. The software uses the Breadth-First Search (BFS) algorithm to calculate paths while avoiding user-defined forbidden zones.
The control system integrates with ROS2, utilizing cmd_vel for speed control and odometry for positioning. A simple regulator rotates the robot if the heading error exceeds 5 degrees and moves forward until the target is within 10 cm.
The platform includes an emulated lift mechanism for storage operations. The system incorporates a 15-second timeout for lift tasks to prevent the software from hanging if a command is not confirmed.
In 2026, the project lead initiated a recruitment process to expand the team. The job posting received over 400 applications within the first two days, with approximately 300 remaining after initial filtering.
