YOLO26-RipeLoc Lite: A lightweight architecture for tomato ripeness detection and picking point localization in greenhouse robotic harvesting
arXiv ·
YOLO26-RipeLoc Lite is a new lightweight deep learning architecture designed for simultaneous detection, ripeness classification, and center-point localization of greenhouse tomatoes for robotic harvesting. The model incorporates a Lightweight Feature Pyramid Network, a Ripeness-Aware Attention Module, and a Compact Detection Head for efficient and precise operation. Evaluated on a custom dataset from the SILAL greenhouse in Abu Dhabi, UAE, it achieved a [email protected] of 92.9% with only 2.38 million parameters, outperforming existing YOLO models in accuracy-efficiency. Why it matters: This research provides an efficient and accurate solution for automating a critical agricultural process, enhancing food security and technological capabilities in the region's greenhouse farming.