terra

01

Project Info

Project Timeline

April 22 - Jul 22

Project Type

Academic case study

Contributor

Delong Xiao
(Designer)

‍

My Contribution

Industrial Design
3D Visualization

terra is an autonomous and compact harvesting robot concept designed for green asparagus cultivation. Built for efficiency, precision, and reliability, terra navigates fields independently, identifies mature spears, and performs a clean, low damage cut directly at the root level.

02 Challenges

Simplifying asparagus field work.

01

Facing current problems of asparagus cultvation

02

Automation process to ensure efficient harvesting

03

Smooth transition from collecting to post-process

Picking asparagus involves physically demanding work.

02-01

Difficulties of manual harvest

Spotting and cutting asparagus spears are among the most physically demanding tasks of the harvest. Farmers must continually bend and work with precision to avoid damaging the roots, making it one of the most exhausting jobs on the farm. Despite this, the work is still carried out manually in most cases.

02-02

Disadvantages of current machineries

Machines used for asparagus harvesting are generally large and heavy, which makes them slow to maneuver. Their weight leads to soil compaction, ultimately reducing yields and degrading soil health, while their size also results in higher maintenance and operating costs.

02 Challenges

Simplifying asparagus field work.

01

Facing current problems of asparagus cultvation

02

Automated process to ensure efficient harvesting

03

Smooth transition from collecting to post-process

Handling intensive tasks such as inspecting and cutting.

02-03

Compact and light build

Thanks to its compact size and light weight, terra maneuvers efficiently through the fields without damaging the soil.

02-04

Accurate asparagus detection

Through a RGB-D camera mounted at the front of the vehicle, terra can detect harvestable spears, measure height, estimate ground plane and plan the path through a 3D depth colour map.

02-05

Automated harvesting
unit

Housed within the chassis on movable rails, two harvesting units move independently to perform the precise task of cutting asparagus spears.

Depth sensor

Performs fine alignment, with a closed-loop positioning controller guiding the blade to its precise cutting position.

Grabbing module and cutter

After positioning and aligning, it extends downward, securing the spear before cutting it with a retractable blade.

02 Challenges

Simplifying asparagus field work.

01

Facing current problems of asparagus cultvation

02

Automated process to ensure efficient harvesting

03

Smooth transition from collecting to post-process

Autonomous collection and transport for faster post-processing.

02-06

Automatic harvest collection

Two storage boxes are integrated within the chassis, enabling the harvesting modules to directly deposit the freshly cut asparagus inside.

Easy storage access

Easy storage removal

02-07

Intelligent navigation

When its storage boxes reach full capacity, terra autonomously returns to the post-processing workhouse, maintaining a seamless workflow and keeping the harvest fresh for tasks like sorting and washing.

02-08

Adaptive roofing

A rain sensor on top triggers the retractable roof to close, protecting the internal components in bad weather conditions.

Thank you for viewing.

Delong Xiao
Portfolio 2025 v1.3.2

Let's chat.
delongdx@gmail.com