The Morning Download: Berry Picking Is Ripe for Robotics and AI

"One problem, say roboticists, is that robots often can't'see' behind leaves or reach behind a tree branch without potentially harming themselves or the fruit they're trying to grab," they report. "Roboticists are trying to solve these problems by enhancing the quality of sensors that allow robots to understand and navigate their surroundings." "RootAI, a Somerville, Mass., startup that is testing a prototype tomato picker, has started talking to seed developers who want to design crops that are more amenable to robotic harvesters." California's Driscoll's Inc., the world's largest berry distributor, is looking at raising its growing beds, making it easier for both robots and humans to pick fruit. HSBC's robot is boosting foot traffic in New York.