Technology Evolution of Natural Rubber Harvesting Mechanization

This book focuses on a specialized area within agricultural engineering: the application of advanced technologies to natural rubber harvesting. It explores both current and emerging solutions in robotics, sensing, and automation—including AI-based detection models, autonomous navigation, path planning algorithms, and tapping machines. By integrating theoretical principles with practical insights, the work addresses real-world challenges in automating rubber tapping. Moreover, it traces the technological evolution of natural rubber harvesting, from traditional manual practices to today's intelligent automation systems. Designed for undergraduate and graduate students with an interest in smart agriculture and agricultural robotics, this book also serves as a valuable resource for growers, engineers, stakeholders, and scientists involved in natural rubber production, offering both useful information and innovative perspectives.