Autonomous Asparagus Harvesting

Product Description

This is Gus. An AI-powered, automated asparagus harvesting robot, tackling labour shortages in agriculture. Designed for durability and full weather resistance, Gus operates reliably in harsh outdoor environments. Its housing is engineered for easy manufacturing, straightforward maintenance, and seamless integration with sensors and mechanical systems. 

I served as the sole product designer on this project, collaborating closely with programmers to ensure all components were logically integrated and met their technical requirements, while maintaining a user-friendly and functional design.

Additional Design Components

Gus required a handful of additional products, such as follow bots, removable basket systems, storage units, battery packs, charging stations, and more. I designed all of these additional components.

Product Testing

To keep costs low during development, I created prototype versions of Gus that the engineering and software teams could use to refine the AI and cutting mechanisms. Each prototype revealed technical challenges that I worked closely with the software engineers to resolve. This iterative process of testing and improvement ultimately led to a fully functional MVP, ready for production.

Future Products

With asparagus harvesting under control, the start-up expanded into other crops, including grapes, daffodils, and courgettes. I developed methods to adapt the existing Gus platform for these additional harvests, enabling the unit to operate across multiple fields throughout different crop seasons. This flexibility was made possible by the modular design considerations that were built into Gus from the outset, allowing for efficient reconfiguration without compromising durability or performance.

Past Designs

As Gus evolved, several iterations were developed before reaching the final MVP. Below are some early concept designs that showcase the progression and key developments made throughout the design journey.