Climbing Robot for Palm Tree Pruning

I&T Wish Climbing Robot for Palm Tree Pruning
(REF: W-0582)
Matched I&T Solution
Trial Project
Summary and Challenges
  • Most public housing estates have palm trees, some of which grow even taller than 15 meters. For palm trees taller than approximately 8 meters, a lifting platform is required to prune withered fronds. However, due to site space constraints, it may not always be possible to position the platform near the tree.
  • To minimize the risk of falling withered fronds and the hazards associated with working at height, this project aims to develop a Climbing Robot ("Robot") equipped with electric saws for palm frond cutting.
  • Key challenges include the inclination of the tree trunk and its associated shifting center of gravity caused by the climbing robot, diameter variations within individual trunks, and ensuring operational safety, including fail-safe measures in case the Robot falls from the tree.
Expected Outcome
  • The Robot is expected to achieve the following:
    1. The overall size and weight shall be suitable for operation on palm trees (Roystonea regia) with trunk diameters of 350 – 450 mm and heights of 8 – 14 m.
    2. The Robot shall complete the mission in a single climbing with the electric saw, which is capable of cutting all the withered fronds at one time meaning that it can cut 360 degree around the tree trunk horizontally (Note: Withered fronds usually are located at the lowest layer of the canopy.)
    3. Operation safety and fail-safe mechanisms shall be incorporated into the design especially for saw operation and prevention of unintentional falls.
    4. The climbing and cutting actions shall not damage the tree surface and the healthy fronds.
    5. The climbing operation should be automatic or semi-automatic in order to facilitate use by site staff.
    6. A remote control with an LCD screen shall be provided to allow staff to control the entire frond pruning process. A camera module shall be mounted on the Robot.
    7. The whole operation of climbing up/down and fronds cutting shall be as user-friendly as possible in order to enable regular use by current staff.
    8. Both the Robot and remote control shall be battery-powered.
    9. The batteries and saw(s), as consumables, shall be replaceable.
    10. The Robot is intended for outdoor use and its materials shall be UV-resistant.
    11. Charging procedures and transportation of the Robot to and from the pruning site shall be simple and easy to perform.
    12. Please note: Pak Tin Estate, a public housing estate in Shek Kip Mei, is the trial site for this project.
Expected Trial Duration 9-month
Contact Information
I&T Wish Proposer:Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD)
Contact Person:Ms. MAN Choi Lai
Position:Project Officer / Innovation / 2
Tel:3757 6125
Email: clman@emsd.gov.hk
Upload Date 2025-09-12
Closing Date 2025-09-26
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