Dutch student teams to compete in cucumber-harvesting robot challenge

Student teams from the four technical universities in the Netherlands will compete to develop the best robot for harvesting cucumbers in a high-wire cultivation system. The first Robotics Greenhouse Challenge, organized by Wageningen University & Research (WUR) and TU Delft, takes place on 7 July 2027 at the WUR greenhouses in Bleiswijk (Violierenweg 1, 2665 MV Bleiswijk). The challenge will be held annually, so each edition can build on the experiences of the last.

A tougher environment than the factory floorHarvesting cucumbers in a greenhouse may seem simple, but the crop is anything but consistent. Leaves cause occlusion, the white crop wire must not be cut, heating pipes and greenhouse structures have to be avoided, and some cucumbers hang behind the main stem and still need to be picked. Achieving a 100% score is a real challenge. For participating students, it is also a chance to gain experience with AI and robotics, strengthen their resumes and connect directly with a network of leading companies.

© Wageningen UR

Two challenges: detection and harvestingThe competition consists of two parts. In the detection challenge, teams must determine how many cucumbers are hanging in a crop row, along with the length and circumference of each fruit. Detection is limited to a height of 1.5 meters, where the ready-to-pick fruit hangs. Teams© Wageningen UR could, for example, use RGB-D cameras to train a deep learning network for detection, or determine the volume of each cucumber directly from the point cloud.

The harvesting challenge looks for the team that is best at picking cucumbers. The aim is to harvest all ripe cucumbers without damaging the crop. Teams will be judged on speed per cucumber, harvesting the right size and the percentage of cucumbers harvested.

LocationThe challenge will take place in the new robotics compartment at the WUR greenhouses in Bleiswijk, where cucumbers are grown on a high-wire trellis, with plants reaching heights of up to 3.3 meters. Each team will be assigned its own crop row for both the detection and harvesting challenges. To ensure a level playing field, one additional row will contain fake produce, meaning teams will have to harvest both real and fake cucumbers.

Teams interested in taking part can sign up via [email protected]. Questions can be sent to the same address.

For more information:

Wageningen University & Research

www.wur.nl