Futuristic robot uses artificial intelligence to sense and pick ripe tomatoes

This futuristic robot is helping eliminate the guesswork and manpower behind harvesting crops. Virgo 1, a robot created by Massachusetts-based tech start-up Root AI, uses artificial intelligence to pick tomatoes and other fruit when they're perfectly ripe. The gadget's sensors can "see" a fruit in 3D, analyze ripeness in realtime and understand if it is ready to pick -- even in "highly cluttered and complicated growing environments," according to the company's website. If Virgo 1 determines a piece of fruit is ripe, the robot extends its arm, gently grabs onto the fruit, gives a quick twist and gently plucks it from the branch without damaging the produce. While similar bots are restricted to harvesting one type of fruit, Virgo 1's software allows it to be programmed for any fruit or vegetable.