Simone Giampà, a Master's student in Computer Science and Engineering at Politecnico di Milano, has been awarded the ROIBOT Award for developing an innovative robotic system capable of autonomously harvesting apples in a simulated orchard environment. The project was carried out under the guidance of Prof. Matteo Matteucci and research assistant Gianluca Bardaro from the Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering.

Giampà’s autonomous fruit-picking robot tackles major challenges facing the agricultural sector, including labour shortages, rising operational costs, and the physical strain of manual harvesting. By operating continuously and with high precision, the robot maximises yield while minimising fruit damage and crop loss. It also improves workplace safety by automating strenuous tasks and allows skilled workers to focus on higher-value responsibilities such as quality control and orchard management. The system represents a significant step toward more sustainable and efficient agricultural practices.

The ROIBOT Award, established by German high-performance polymer manufacturer Igus, is presented biennially by a panel of industry and media experts. It recognises creative and impactful automation projects that push the boundaries of innovation.

This year’s competition featured over 100 entries from 20 countries, highlighting the broad potential of Low-Cost Automation in fields ranging from packaging quality control to inclusive robotics projects that empower individuals with disabilities to work independently.