Apple Production Technologies: From Laboratory to Practical Applications

This book comprehensively introduces innovative technologies for practical applications in apple production, which include, but not limited to autonomous thinning, Internet of Things, drones for pollination, disease detection and control, and growth stage detection. Conventional apple production is a labor-intensive industry, and many operations require labor, such as thinning, pollination, and harvest. Increasing labor cost and shrinking labor pool negatively affect the sustainability of apple industry. Meanwhile, recent technological progress in sensors and algorithms also impacted the apple industry. These developed technologies are gradually transferring from laboratory to practical applications to benefit apple production. This book provides undergraduates, M.S., and Ph.D. students in the area of smart agriculture, computer science, and mechanical engineering innovative robotics technologies for apple production.