Meet Cocobot – This 11-kilogram robotic device is designed to climb 20-metre palm trees of Kerala

Cocobot is a coconut-harvesting robot designed to climb 20-metre palm trees. (Image: You Tube/@Karshakasree)

• Engineers in Kerala unveil Cocobot, a coconut-harvesting robot.
• Cocobot climbs 20-metre trees, harvesting coconuts remotely.
• The robot aims to address labour shortages in coconut farming.

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In the lush coconut groves of Kerala, harvesting has always required courage. Scaling a 20-metre palm tree with nothing but skill and rope is not just labour-intensive. It can be dangerous. But that centuries-old image may soon change.

A team of young engineers from Kozhikode has unveiled a coconut-harvesting robot designed to climb trees and cut coconuts with precision. The machine, called Cocobot, could mark a turning point in agricultural robotics in India.

Cocobot: A Robot Built for the Palm Tree

Cocobot is  an 11-kilogram robotic device that can be carried by one person and mounted onto a coconut tree in seconds. Once attached, the machine climbs vertically, gripping the trunk securely as it ascends.

According to its developers, it can scale a palm up to 20 metres tall in under a minute. Cocobot symbolises this shift. It does not replace agriculture instead it supports it.

Who Is Behind Cocobot?

Cocobot was developed by a team of young engineers from Kozhikode. This discovery was led by Ashinkrishna and his colleagues, who sought to solve a growing crisis in coconut farming. Kerala has long depended on skilled tree climbers to harvest coconuts, but the number of trained workers has steadily declined.

How Does "Cocobot" Work?

The robot is powered by rechargeable batteries that provide around two hours of operational time. It is controlled remotely, allowing operators to guide its movements from the ground.

Equipped with mechanical arms and cutting tools, Cocobot can identify and harvest ripe coconuts while also trimming unwanted leaf stalks. A camera mounted on the device assists the operator in spotting mature fruit.

What Is the Role of This Robot?

Cocobot’s primary role is simple yet transformative. This robot will be used to climb coconut trees and harvest coconuts safely and efficiently. Weighing around 11 kilograms, the robot can be carried and mounted onto a tree within seconds.

The robot runs on rechargeable batteries and can function for roughly two hours on a single charge. A built-in camera assists the operator in identifying mature fruit from the ground.

How Scientists see this amazing Discovery?

Agricultural experts see Cocobot as part of a broader transformation in farming technology. While robotics has long been associated with large-scale industrial agriculture, innovations like Cocobot show how automation can be adapted for smallholder and tree-based farming systems.

Researchers note that such targeted solutions can have a profound socio-economic impact. By lowering operational risk and labour costs, the robot could make coconut farming more sustainable and appealing to younger generations.