Michael P. Fuller

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Michael P. Fuller is a pioneering researcher in agricultural robotics, with a primary focus on developing soft and modular robotic systems for precision harvesting of delicate crops. His work addresses one of the most pressing challenges in modern agriculture: the labor-intensive and costly process of picking soft fruits and vegetables, which can represent over 50% of total production costs. Fuller's most impactful contribution is the "Soft manipulator robot for selective tomato harvesting" (2019, 19 citations), which introduced a novel, gentle gripping mechanism capable of handling fragile produce without damage. He further advanced the field with his "Proof-of-concept modular robot platform for cauliflower harvesting" (2019, 10 citations), a bi-manual system featuring variable-stiffness arms designed for robust, adaptable field operations. Notably, his modular platform demonstrated the potential for scalable, multi-crop harvesting solutions. With a combined 29 citations on these foundational works, Fuller is establishing himself as a key innovator in sustainable, automated agriculture, bridging the gap between soft robotics and real-world farming needs.