Economic Analysis of Robotic Citrus Harvesting in Florida

Abstract

ABSTRACT COSTS were formulated for robotic citrus harvesting in Florida. Nineteen factors were identified which affected harvest costs. A nominal analysis state was estabUshed by making best estimates for all factors. These included a purchase price for a multiple arm harvester of $25,000/arm, an average pick cycle time of 3 s, and a harvest inefficiency of 15%. Robotic harvest cost resulting from the nominal state was $2.15 per 41 kg box. This was 50% greater than the average 1983-84 Florida hand harvest cost (Hooks, 1986). It was found that robotic harvest cost was affected most by harvest inefficiency followed by harvester purchase price, average pick cycle time, and harvester repair expense. It was concluded that research and development of robotic harvesting technology should continue and should concentrate on the following areas: (a) harvest inefficiency, (b) purchase price, (c) harvester reliability, and (d) modifications in the work environment that would improve the performance of robotic harvesters and to determine how these modifications could be implemented.