There are more than 370,000 industrial robots in use in modern day Japan - always a country regarded to be at the forefront of modern technology and especially robotics.

However a two man robot design team in the Netherlands are on the verge of creating the latest in robotic technology for the mushroom industry.

 The champignon plukrobot may not look like a terminator style robot - but the design and technological expertise that is going into developing this picking machine is at the very forefront of today's science and technological frontier.

The first member of the team Johan van Namen has a mushroom growing business and trade outfit in Hoenzadriel the Netherlands. He produces mushrooms for both the Dutch market and the United Kingdom. One of the latest developments he has been involved with is a real-time web-enabled tracebility system.

The second member of the design team is John Reuvers (Msc.) from Methore in Kerkdriel. John designs mechatronic vision solutions for different kinds of industries. His latest endeavours have been in laser welding equipment, vision measuring equipment, garbage container recognition and of course in the development of the mushroom picking machine for the mushroom industry. He also has close connections with functionality sport clothes factories in Asia.

 Johan van Namen in Hoenzadriel and John Reuvers Kerkdriel, started in 2004 investigating the problem of harvesting mushrooms. The main problem turned out to be recognizing mushrooms in clusters and picking then picking them without damaging the individual mushroom.

 They started with mathematical analyses, gathered during mushroom harvesting by hand. Afterwards they converted the mathematical models to a physical model. This modelling showed them the amount of torque and direction that were necessary. For each different torque they made a pilot object which they then used to test the model against reality.
To complete the gripper the team combined all pilot objects into one gripper.
 
Working on the robotic system.

After testing the prototype gripper, they made a machine to show the automatic functionality on the conventional beds.
 This principle can be used for similar object. Methore is the patent holder of this principle.

 At this moment the robot is working without damaging mushrooms and it is picking mushrooms in clusters. The big advantage is the design's functionality on conventional mushroom beds. There is no need to invest in new infrastructure.

 The mushroom picker works with vision and laser computer-embedded software and accurate motion technology.
The vision and laser system recognizes the mushrooms and defines the method to pick a certain mushroom of the right size. The system controls the motion controllers - how and where to pick the exact mushroom.

The robot gripper plucks at a mushroom.
The design team are not quite in the position yet to construct the mechanics for speeding up the machine, and to design more gripping arms and to build the machine outright for immediate use on mushroom farms. Johan and John are looking for mushroom growers who want to have some influence in the final development steps and are also seeking a mechanical constructor/builder to make this mushroom picker ready for industrial use.

 The final specifications and picking rate for the machine is hoped to be 1 mushroom/3 seconds/gripper. There is space for 3 grippers on one mushroom picker.

The ultimate aim is to develop this machine so it is fully automatic in interaction with automatic vehicle systems, process controls, ordering systems and tracking/tracing systems.

 Visit the design team's website at: http://cvr.methore.nl for more details, design specs, photographs and film.
Anyone who fills in the online form or contacts the team will be informed about the development progress regularly.