What is the main role of UPV in FEROX?

UPV’s main role is to coordinate the technical activities that take place within the project, making sure all partners from different fields work together towards the same objectives. The UPV partners’ knowledge from multiple backgrounds, such as robotics, communications, informatics and UAS technologies, provides a link between the different technical parts of the project, contributing to the main goal of developing an innovative solution for berry picking assistance.

How does your expertise contribute to the overall aims of the FEROX project?

Previous experience in the UPV with the management of robotic fleets and with UAS and their regulations in the EU provides a solid foundation for the development of technologies that combine these and other fields, assisting in tasks like the development of the drone fleet management system or the planning and piloting in drone operations.

How do you expect drones to change the working situation of berry pickers?

The main improvement would be visible in the greater efficiency of the picking process, reflected in an increase in the quantity of wild berries collected. This efficiency can be improved with the help of drones thanks to their ability to sweep large and hard-to-reach areas faster than a human and find locations where wild berries are available, thus reducing working time where no berries are collected; and thanks to the physical assistance they can offer by transporting berries collected by the pickers to specific locations, reducing this way the physical strain on them and the time employed performing this task manually.