About
Tevel is pioneering the future of agriculture with its Flying Autonomous Robots™ — fully autonomous machines driven by advanced artificial intelligence, computer vision, and machine learning algorithms. Designed to address the global agricultural labor shortage, these robots operate 24/7 in orchards to harvest fruits including apples, peaches, apricots, nectarines, plums, and pears with unmatched precision and minimal bruising. Beyond harvesting, each robot functions as a real-time data agent, capturing granular insights on every piece of fruit it picks — including total quantity harvested, individual fruit size, weight, timestamp, ripeness level, and disease detection. This data is instantly accessible to farmers, empowering them to make data-driven decisions, optimize sorting and grading, and significantly reduce post-harvest costs. Key capabilities include selective color-based picking to ensure only ripe produce is collected, agile and easy operation, and cost savings through automation. Tevel's technology has been deployed by leading agricultural groups such as Rivoira (Italy), HMC Farms (California), and Unifrutti (Chile). The company has received numerous awards in both the agriculture and robotics sectors and is backed by a global consortium of investors. Tevel is ideal for large-scale orchard operators, agribusinesses, and fruit growers looking to modernize their harvesting operations and improve fruit quality at scale.
Key Features
- Flying Autonomous Robots™: Fully autonomous aerial robots that navigate orchards and pick fruits without human intervention, operating day and night.
- AI-Powered Ripeness Detection: Uses computer vision and machine learning to assess each fruit's ripeness level, ensuring only the highest-quality produce is harvested.
- Real-Time Harvest Data Collection: Each robot acts as a data agent, capturing per-fruit metrics including size, weight, timestamp, ripeness, and disease detection in real time.
- Selective Color Picking: Advanced color-based selection allows robots to pick only fruits that meet target ripeness and quality thresholds, reducing waste.
- 24/7 Continuous Operation: Robots harvest around the clock without fatigue or labor constraints, maximizing orchard throughput during critical harvest windows.
Use Cases
- Large-scale commercial orchards seeking to automate fruit harvesting and reduce dependency on seasonal labor
- Fruit growers needing precise ripeness-based selective picking to maximize produce quality and minimize post-harvest losses
- Agricultural operations requiring 24/7 harvesting capacity during narrow, time-sensitive harvest windows
- Packing houses and growers wanting real-time bin-level data on fruit quality, size, and condition before processing
- Agribusinesses looking to leverage AI and robotics to cut operational costs and gain competitive advantage in global produce markets
Pros
- Solves Labor Shortages: Provides a scalable solution to the ongoing agricultural labor crisis, reducing dependency on seasonal human workers.
- Minimizes Fruit Bruising: High-precision robotic picking dramatically reduces mechanical damage, preserving fruit quality and market value.
- Data-Driven Farm Management: Real-time granular data on every harvested fruit empowers smarter decisions in sorting, grading, and post-harvest logistics.
- Global Proven Deployment: Already deployed across multiple continents with major agricultural partners, demonstrating reliability at commercial scale.
Cons
- High Capital Investment: As an enterprise robotics solution, the upfront cost is likely significant and may be a barrier for smaller or independent growers.
- Limited Crop Coverage: Currently focused on a specific set of tree fruits (apples, peaches, pears, etc.) and may not support all orchard crop types.
- Operational Complexity: Deploying and maintaining a fleet of autonomous aerial robots requires on-site expertise and infrastructure support.
Frequently Asked Questions
What fruits can Tevel's robots harvest?
Tevel's Flying Autonomous Robots™ are currently capable of harvesting apples, peaches, apricots, nectarines, plums, and pears.
How does Tevel's technology determine fruit ripeness?
The robots use computer vision and machine learning algorithms to analyze the color, size, and visual characteristics of each fruit in real time, enabling selective picking based on ripeness level.
Can the robots operate at night?
Yes, Tevel's robots are designed for 24/7 operation, allowing continuous harvesting regardless of time of day.
What kind of data does Tevel provide to farmers?
Farmers receive real-time data on total quantity harvested, individual fruit size, weight, timestamp, ripeness level, and disease detection for every fruit picked.
Where is Tevel currently operating?
Tevel has active deployments in Italy (Rivoira Group), the United States (HMC Farms, California), Chile (Unifrutti Group), and Israel, among other locations.
