AI Pruning!
AI-Supported Fruit Tree Pruning
Plant pruning is a demanding, critical, and expensive task in fruit growing that is often performed by experts or the fruit growers themselves, as mistakes affect the perennial crop in the long term. However, since skilled workers and time are lacking, AI Pruning aims to help overcome these bottlenecks.
With AI Pruning, untrained workers can perform pruning professionally and quickly. A smartphone is used - which can be extended with smart glasses - that analyzes the plants and displays precise instructions for pruning directly. This can close a significant innovation gap between technology and practice.
Current News
On December 8, 2025, recording began for the 2025/26 season. Over two days, data was collected in Mainz on various areas, which can now be processed. Subsequently, the recording frame was transported to the DLR in Klein-Altendorf, where recordings were made both at the DLR and at two other companies.
The recording rig was then transported back to Mainz, where further test recordings were carried out – including on the land of the two new partner companies Gottschalk-Obst and Philaroma Erdbeeren-Wiesenobst GbR.
Project Timeline
10.2025 Cutting suggestions are displayed in the model
09.2025 Basis for precise cutting instructions created!
06.2025 Networking in Mestre at the EU-CAP seminar
05.2025 Precise 3D reconstruction of trees to be pruned
04.2025 Successful semantic segmentation
03.2025 AI Pruning presents itself to the industry
01.2025 Mass recordings in South Tyrolean production facilities
11.2024 Winter pruning, image recording with recording app of orchard meadows
03–10.2024 Development of the recording app
02.2024 Start of image material annotation
01.2024 Project start: early start of measures; winter pruning and image recording