A Comprehensive Review of Current Robot- Based Pollinators in Greenhouse Farming

Abstract

The decline of bee and wind-based pollination systems in greenhouses due to controlled environments and limited access has boost the importance of finding alternative pollination methods. Robotic based pollination systems have emerged as a promising solution, ensuring adequate crop yield even in challenging pollination scenarios. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the current robotic-based pollinators employed in greenhouses. The review categorizes pollinator technologies into major categories such as air-jet, water-jet, linear actuator, ultrasonic wave, and air-liquid spray, each suitable for specific crop pollination requirements. However, these technologies are often tailored to particular crops, limiting their versatility. The advancement of science and technology has led to the integration of automated pollination technology, encompassing information technology, automatic perception, detection, control, and operation. This integration not only reduces labor costs but also fosters the ongoing progress of modern agriculture by refining technology, enhancing automation, and promoting intelligence in agricultural practices. Finally, the challenges encountered in design of pollinator are addressed, and a forward-looking perspective is taken towards future developments, aiming to contribute to the sustainable advancement of this technology.

Figures (22)

• Figure 1: Clustering density view presented the co-occurrences of keywords that emerged from our targeted search and bibliometric analysis, shedding light on prevalent research trends in the field. Terms like ’pollination,’ ’pollinator,’ ’bees,’ ’buzz pollinator,’ and ’pollinator decline’ prominently co-occur, providing valuable insights into the core focus areas of our comprehensive review
• Figure 2: Temporal Distribution of Analyzed Papers. This graph illustrates the number of papers reviewed, plotted against their respective publication years, offering a comprehensive view of the research progression in our domain over time
• Figure 3: Top 10 most frequently cited research publisher sources
• Figure 4: Taxonomy of robot based pollinator applications in greenhouse. It illustrates the diverse approaches and technologies used in pollination for different crops
• Figure 5: Tomato flower pollination overview process (a) Tomato flower structure, (b) Bee pollination, (c) Hand brush pollination, and (d) Vibrator toothbrush pollination.