Design and Analysis of a Flexible Adaptive Supporting Device for Banana Harvest

Currently, banana harvest still relies on manual operation with high labor intensity. With an aging global population, it is important to develop a machine replace the harvesting of bananas increase sustainability. In area robotic fruit harvest, most existing studies have used one single manipulator grip fruit. However, unlike other fruits, weight bunch (25–40 kg) would be too heavy for manipulator. To solve this problem, paper proposes flexible supporting device, which was introduced cooperate complete harvest. The device designed hold bottom and bunch. It included two parts: contact part height difference self-adjusting part. shape adaptability, size adaptability proposed were studied in paper. process also simulated analyzed. stiffness stress properties during studied. results showed that had good adaptive performance different shapes sizes objects. During process, worked stably reliably caused small skin. Finally, prototype further verify device. This research can promote mechanization automation progress such complex crop as bananas.