Harvesting Perspectives: A Worker-Centered Inquiry into the Future of Fruit-Picking Farm Robots

TY - CHAP

T1 - Harvesting Perspectives

T2 - A Worker-Centered Inquiry into the Future of Fruit-Picking Farm Robots

AU - Malik, Muhammad Abdul Basit

AU - Brandão, Martim

AU - Coopamootoo, Kovila

PY - 2025/6/9

Y1 - 2025/6/9

N2 - The integration of robotics in agriculture presents promising solutions to challenges such as labour shortages and increasing global food demand. However, existing visions of agriculture robots often prioritize technological and business needs over workers'. In this paper, we explicitly investigate farm workers' perspectives on robots, particularly regarding privacy, inclusivity, and safety, three critical dimensions of agricultural HRI. Through a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews, we: 1) outline how privacy, safety and inclusivity issues manifest within modern picking-farms; 2) reveal worker attitudes and concerns about the adoption of robots; and 3) articulate a set of worker-centered requirements and alternative visions for robotic systems deployed in farm settings. Some of these visions open the door to the development of new systems and HRI research. For example, workers' visions included robots for enhancing workplace inclusivity and solidarity, training, workplace accountability, reducing workplace accidents and responding to emergencies, as well as privacy-sensitive robots. We conclude with actionable recommendations for designers and policymakers. By centering worker perspectives, this study contributes to ongoing discussions in human-centered robotics, participatory HRI, and the future of work in agriculture.

AB - The integration of robotics in agriculture presents promising solutions to challenges such as labour shortages and increasing global food demand. However, existing visions of agriculture robots often prioritize technological and business needs over workers'. In this paper, we explicitly investigate farm workers' perspectives on robots, particularly regarding privacy, inclusivity, and safety, three critical dimensions of agricultural HRI. Through a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews, we: 1) outline how privacy, safety and inclusivity issues manifest within modern picking-farms; 2) reveal worker attitudes and concerns about the adoption of robots; and 3) articulate a set of worker-centered requirements and alternative visions for robotic systems deployed in farm settings. Some of these visions open the door to the development of new systems and HRI research. For example, workers' visions included robots for enhancing workplace inclusivity and solidarity, training, workplace accountability, reducing workplace accidents and responding to emergencies, as well as privacy-sensitive robots. We conclude with actionable recommendations for designers and policymakers. By centering worker perspectives, this study contributes to ongoing discussions in human-centered robotics, participatory HRI, and the future of work in agriculture.

M3 - Conference paper

BT - IEEE International Conference on Robot and Human Interactive Communication (RO-MAN)

ER -