Assistant professors Hussein Gharakhani and Xin Zhang from Mississippi State University’s Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering are developing a novel robotic system that could transform cotton harvesting. The team has engineered a two-fingered device—referred to as an end-effector—that carefully grasps individual cotton bolls, extracting the lint one at a time. This targeted approach, inspired by the way a lizard’s tongue captures prey, allows cotton to be harvested at its peak quality.
This innovation represents a significant advancement in applying artificial intelligence to agriculture. By integrating an RGB-depth camera, a 3D LiDAR sensor, and an AI-based processor, the system can identify cotton bolls and navigate the field, even on uneven terrain. The project addresses critical issues such as labor shortages and the environmental impact of heavy machinery, offering a promising alternative to conventional harvesters that can compact soil and reduce crop yields.
Department head Alex Thomasson explains that the new technology is designed to provide cotton farmers with more sustainable and economically viable harvesting options. Unlike some systems developed at other institutions, the MSU end-effector is a distinctive component of a larger effort that includes integrating a commercial six-degree-of-freedom robotic arm with a four-wheel-drive platform known as the “Husky” from Clearpath Robotics. This platform is equipped with GPS navigation and a perception module, and its performance is being simulated using Gazebo software before field testing at the university’s North Farm.
In addition to addressing the technical challenges of recognizing and picking cotton bolls—whose orientations can vary widely—the project also aims to overcome broader agricultural challenges. These include the scarcity of qualified machine operators and the need to mitigate soil damage caused by large, conventional harvesters. Over the coming year, the research team plans to focus on integrating the system’s various components to ultimately create a fully autonomous cotton harvester capable of operating in unpredictable field conditions.
Though the technology is still in development, the ongoing research is expected to pave the way for sustainable and efficient harvesting practices, potentially revolutionizing the $38 billion global cotton industry.
