CQUni develops “game-changing” world-first mango auto-harvester

Vivien Lin

CQUniversity has built the world’s first mango auto-harvester and is working to take this technology to commercial-ready deployment.

The prototype harvester takes approximately five seconds to harvest a mango, from detection to placement. During field trials held at Yeppoon in Queensland, the first prototype achieved 75 per cent efficiency in automatically identifying and picking fruit in view.

The equipment was developed as part of a RND4Profit Commonwealth-funded research project led by Horticulture Innovation , an industry R&D corporation.

Speaking at this week’s Australian Mango Industry Association conference in Darwin, CQUniversity Professor Kerry Walsh stated the aim is now to improve the harvester’s performance to over 90 per cent efficiency of fruit in view, increase its speed and refine its construction to reduce costs.

“The auto-harvester has the potential to solve some of the major labour force issues that currently limit the industry,” said Professor Walsh. “The end goal is to save costs and improve productivity on farms, while driving consumer demand by ensuring a top-quality eating experience every time.”

Professor Walsh and his team previously developed a near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) measurements system to assess the eating quality of mangoes and predict the ideal time for harvest. The mango industry has since adopted this technology.

Ian Groves of Groves Grown Fruit, who hosted the first field trials of the prototype auto-harvester, has labelled the technology “game-changing.”

“The machinery identifying and counting fruit in the orchard turned out to be within just a few per cent of the actual number of fruit in the entire block last year,” says Mr Groves.

“That technology is also able to measure the size range of that fruit and so knowing how much fruit is in that block, knowing when it’s going to be mature and knowing the size of the fruit, means we can schedule our workforce, order the right number of cartons, the size of the inserts going into those cartons – this could be a real game changer, not only for our farm but for the entire industry.”

Professor Walsh’s next phase of research will investigate ways to mount the auto-harvester on a terrestrial drone to operate autonomously, at faster speeds and higher accuracies.

You see the auto-harvester in action here.


NEWS
By Published with permission from Edith Cowan University August 1, 2025
In good news for mango lovers, new research from Edith Cowan University (ECU) has identified a way to extend the storage life of the popular tropical fruit.
July 24, 2025
A grower focused event exploring practical science for stronger crops. Keynote speaker is Dr David Marks, Managing Director of Levity Crop Science. Wednesday, 13th August 2025.
July 24, 2025
Technical improvements have made locally engineered Draper Pickup Front the 'only one to buy'.
July 24, 2025
Central Steel Build is a leader in the design and construction of bespoke steel structures for agriculture and beyond. With 50 years of experience and a long list of pioneering achievements, it customises locally made, durable sheds for both on-farm use and across the agricultural supply chain, supporting clients from paddock to port. 
By Published with permission from CEA July 16, 2025
CEA, a leading provider of equipment to the agriculture, construction, mining, earthmoving, infrastructure, defence, waste management, mining, and recycling sectors, is pleased to announce a significant expansion of its business to include two new branch locations in Central Queensland: Rockhampton and Mackay (formerly Terrequipe). This strategic move emphasises CEA's unwavering commitment to growth while reinforcing its
By Published with permission from Charles Darwin University May 27, 2025
Nature is still too complex for artificial intelligence (AI) modelling to be effective, but the tipping point is close, according to a new study that found the technology may still trip at the last real-world hurdle.
Show More