ETH News

All stories by Nicole Davidson and Deborah Kyburz, Corporate Communications

Sowing, harvesting, sorting: robots learn permaculture

Small plastic trees stand on a table. Next to them is a small robot. In the background, a person stands taking notes.

During this year’s “Innovation Project”, mechanical engineering students built robots that can cultivate a model-scale permaculture garden. In the final, on 16 December, the best teams will demonstrate how their autonomous systems sow, harvest and deliver fruit sorted by variety.

11.12.2025

Playing badminton against a robot

Four-legged robot holding a badminton racket in its arm

A research team from ETH Zurich has taught the four-legged robot ANYmal to play badminton – including precise arm movements, quick reflexes and nimble footwork.

25.08.2025