Agriculture and Forestry
Precision Agriculture
Mobile Robotics
Artificial Intelligence
Computer Vision
Digital Twin
FKZ 02WDG1767
OSKAR
Ecological Selective Cultivation and Thinning of Apple Trees Using Robotics
Duration: November 1, 2025 – October 31, 2027
Consortium:
- Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Applied Materials Research (IFAM)
- Hamburg University of Technology
- digital workbench gmbh
- Obstbauversuchsring des Alten Landes e.V. (Subcontracted)
Contact Person (Coordinator)
Daniel Valencia
Fraunhofer Institut für Fertigungstechnik und Angewandte Materialforschung (IFAM)
Ottenbecker Damm 12
21684 Stade
What the Project Is About
The OSKAR collaborative project aims to make fruit growing more sustainable, efficient, and resource-efficient through the use of modern robotics and artificial intelligence (AI). The focus is on automated flower and fruit thinning, which is expected to significantly reduce the use of chemical pesticides. By combining 3D reconstruction of orchards, machine learning, and precise robotics, the project enables targeted treatment not only on a tree-by-tree basis but also on a flower-by-flower and fruit-by-fruit basis, offering both ecological and economic benefits.
The process begins with multimodal sensory data collection of the orchard, which enables the creation of a digital twin through 3D reconstruction and AI-supported image processing. Machine learning is used to individually recognize and locate flowers and fruits. This data serves as the basis for the precise control of a mobile robotic system that performs mechanical thinning selectively and gently.
Based on this, the system automatically, data-driven, and selectively removes excess individual flowers and fruits. The resulting homogenization of the fruit set reduces yield fluctuations caused by the alternate bearing phenomenon and ensures stable yields year after year. This not only increases profitability but also improves the quality of the harvested fruit.
Mechanical flower and fruit thinning replaces the use of chemical plant protection products, which have previously been applied across the board and often weather-dependent, with a particular focus on preserving the valuable king flower. The targeted use of robotic systems reduces environmental impact, as no chemical residues are produced and soil compaction is avoided thanks to soil-friendly, lightweight robotic platforms. In addition, CO₂ emissions are significantly reduced through the use of electrically powered robots compared to tractors.