Design of a Mobile Manipulator for Automated Rubber Latex Collection

Rubber latex collection is a labor-intensive process that relies on semiskilled laborers. Efficient collection and processing of high-quality latex is essential for manufacturing natural rubber products. However, the shortage of skilled and semiskilled workers in tropical regions has led to the exploration of automated solutions. This work presents the design of a robotic system for automated rubber latex collection. The proposed system incorporates a mobile manipulator with a marker-based image recognition system to identify latex cups. The collection mechanism is designed as an end effector attached to a manipulator arm, which is mounted on a mobile platform with all terrain capabilities to navigate the challenging terrains of rubber plantations. A conceptual design of the system is presented, along with a discussion on potential future developments.