Application of novel machine learning techniques and high speed 3D vision algorithms for real time detection of fruit

The student will use and develop advanced machine learning algorithms to measure, identify and detect fruit in real time and in 3D. The algorithms will be trainable (so that a range of fruit types can be identified) and provide a world x,y,z co-ordinate of the fruit. Kusmann, Duckett, Cielniak and Pearson (2017, J. Field Robotics in press) have developed similar systems for broccoli. This earlier work showed that 3D cameras could be deployed in field environments however the algorithms were highly complex with relatively slow processing speed. The new challenge for this PhD project will be to minimise processing requirements to identify fruit whilst maximising processing speed and recognition fidelity. This project will initially focus on strawberry and may include apple.