A robot that can pick tomatoes is getting a lot of attention at the 31st  China Yangling Agricultural Hi-tech Fair held in Xianyang City, northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

The device integrates artificial intelligence and multi-sensor technology and uses a vision algorithm based on deep learning to guide the robotic arm to complete the tasks of identification, positioning, grabbing and cutting.

The robot is also able to distinguish the fruit at different levels of ripening and, accordingly, choose those ready to be harvested – a process that used to be labor intensive.

"The kind of robot that picks fruits and vegetables consists of a walking system, vision system and picking execution system," said Li Shenyang, one of the fair's organizers. "It can adjust itself to different environments in the field. It can also acquire and process specific information related to the produce's size, color, shape, ripeness and picking location."

"Through reasonable path planning, it can complete various tasks such as grabbing and picking the fruit and placing it in baskets," Li added.

The fair, with the theme centering on a new future of agriculture with new quality productive forces, is showcasing a new crop of agricultural equipment, machinery and processes powered by high-efficiency and high-quality technology.

1,800 companies from 49 countries and regions are taking part in this event, where a host of activities are organized, from exhibitions and conferences to investment and matchmaking opportunities. The fair will run from October 25 to 29.