"Smart, people-centred technologies to transform agricultural pruning"
Solutions integrating robotics, artificial intelligence and workplace well-being in AgRimate
Pruning is one of the most demanding agricultural tasks: it requires expert knowledge, continuous effort and real-time decision-making.
TECNALIA works to ensure that technology does not replace people, but rather accompanies and supports them, developing smart solutions that increase safety, well-being and efficiency in the pruning of olive groves and vineyards.
Humanising technology to transform pruning in agriculture
TECNALIA is working on the AgRimate initiative, which seeks to develop and validate smart solutions for pruning olive groves and vineyards. Within this framework, we are looking how to integrate advanced interaction, human factors, artificial intelligence and augmented reality to turn these advances into real agricultural work environments.
- In this context, we have carried out several practical demonstrations in Jaén, in real environments, such as Mogón and within the framework of Expoliva, alongside the Union of Small Farmers and Ranchers (UPA).
- These tests have enabled the technologies developed in real working conditions to be evaluated and obtain the direct experience of professionals in the sector.
Companies in the agricultural sector are increasingly relying on automation. However, many processes depend on human skills that require experience, precision and safety.
- TECNALIA takes a different approach to this challenge: we design solutions that understand, learn and adapt to people.
- We do this to generate a human-smart interaction that puts people at the centre and creates a safer, more efficient and accessible working environment.
Robotics, artificial intelligence and well-being at work
Exoskeleton with wellness sensors
The demonstrations showcased an exoskeleton designed by Uivo to reduce fatigue and facilitate the use of pruning tools in the olive tree, accompanied by sensors that analyse indicators of the person’s effort.
- This information helps identify when the worker needs to rest and protects the worker's health during the working day.
Smart interfaces with augmented reality
In conjunction with Xymbot, we have developed an augmented reality application that guides the pruner in real time, indicating which branch to cut and how to do so. The tool is supported by an artificial intelligence module that learns from experts and transfers this knowledge intuitively to the operator.
- In addition to supporting daily tasks, this technology opens up new possibilities for training, enabling content to be adapted to different farmer profiles and facilitating the transfer of expert knowledge.
Towards an autonomous vineyard robot
The AgRimate initiative also incorporates the development of an autonomous robot for vineyard pruning, in collaboration with Tampere University, Fonfazione Bruno Kessler, and the Agricultural University of Athens.
- This system is designed to complement human work, taking over repetitive and physically demanding tasks, while the person keeps control of the process and decision-making.
International collaboration for more humane agriculture
Farmers, along with technical staff from Spain, Italy and Germany, have participated in various practical workshops in the project. Pruning tests were carried out on olive groves and vineyards and aspects, such as the reduction of physical effort, increased control and acceptance of the technologies developed were analysed alongside experts.
The collaboration with the University of Berlin adds a social dimension to the project, addressing not only the technological challenges, but also the human and organisational factors related to working conditions in the agricultural sector.
The AgRimate initiative brings together twelve European organisations working together to create new ways of working in the field. TECNALIA provides its experience in human-system interaction, immersive technologies and well-being at work, in line with our value proposal in the digital transformation of the agricultural sector.
If you would like to find out more about our solutions in these areas, please contact our team by clicking on contact us.