TouchRipe: UAE’s First AI-Powered Device for Instant Fruit Ripeness Verification

أكتوبر 18, 2025

In a strategic move underscoring its leadership in translating academic research into impactful commercial solutions, Khalifa University of Science and Technology launched the TouchRipe device. This is the UAE’s first portable device designed for instant fruit ripeness verification using embedded artificial intelligence.

  • TouchRipe is the UAE's first portable, AI-powered device for instant fruit ripeness checks.
  • It operates completely offline, making it highly effective for field use in farms and supply chains.
  • The device utilizes a tactile sensor and integrated AI to estimate fruit firmness in under 30 seconds.
  • It directly contributes to reducing food waste and enhancing quality control standards across the supply chain.
  • The innovation embodies the UAE's commitment to developing a sustainable, knowledge-based economy.

This achievement was unveiled during the university's joint participation in the GITEX Global 2025 and Expand North Star 2025 exhibitions. TouchRipe represents a significant leap forward for food supply chains, developed to operate without the need for internet connectivity. It utilizes a tactile sensor powered by integrated AI that mimics the human sense of touch.

This innovation, for which Khalifa University has filed a US patent application, embodies the UAE's vision for a sustainable, knowledge-based economy built on innovation.

TouchRipe: Simulating Human Touch for Enhanced Quality Control

The TouchRipe device is the culmination of efforts by Khalifa University researchers, distinguished by its practical field design, advanced technology, and multiple advantages, which include:

  • Offline Field Operation: The device weighs only 135 grams and operates without the need for internet connectivity, making it ideal for use in fields and farms.
  • Technology and Speed: The device is attached to the thumb and connected to the wrist. It uses a tactile sensor based on vision and Artificial Intelligence to estimate fruit firmness in less than 30 seconds.
  • Proactivity and Quality: The device allows farmers, inspectors, and agricultural companies to assess fruit ripeness non-destructively. This directly contributes to reducing food waste, enhancing the ability to estimate harvest time, and streamlining quality controls across the entire supply chain.

Professor Bayan Sharif, Academic President at Khalifa University, affirmed that the launch of TouchRipe embodies the university's pivotal role in transforming research into palpable real-world impact, thereby strengthening the nation's leadership in the field of innovation and sustainability.

The Pivotal Role of TouchRipe in Smart Agriculture and Food Security

The TouchRipe device is a tangible intersection of AI and sensory technology with food security, arriving at a time when Gulf nations are moving toward localizing Sustainable Agriculture solutions and reducing reliance on imports.

This project highlights how UAE scientific research can be converted into commercially viable smart products, positioning the UAE at the forefront of countries utilizing AI in the management of natural resources and food security.

Khalifa Innovation Center: A Hub for Deep Tech Startups

Researchers working on advanced technology at Khalifa University

The launch efforts for TouchRipe coincide with the showcase of ten startups led by university researchers from the Khalifa Innovation Center—which functions as a business incubator—during the Expand North Star 2025 exhibition.

These startups focus on developing advanced solutions in vital fields such as: AI, robotics, health, energy, and sustainability. Among the most prominent are:

  • Nutrigenics Care: An advanced therapeutic nutrition platform that relies on AI to streamline dietary management. It was recently selected to join the Microsoft Founders Hub program.
  • Deep Forecast: Provides smart, AI-based solutions to deliver ultra-precise geospatial intelligence for environmental monitoring.
  • Drone Life: Contributes to the development of fully autonomous, AI-driven drones for advanced mission execution.
  • Qomra AI: A startup from the Advanced Research and Innovation Center at Khalifa University, specializing in developing advanced neural vision systems for robotics and industrial inspection applications.
  • Ibsar Technologies: A company specializing in advanced research and consulting in the field of image and video analysis using AI.
  • Labos Technologies: Works on developing highly energy-efficient wearable medical devices.

Driving the UAE's Knowledge-Based Economy through Deep Technology

A modern building at Khalifa University symbolizing innovation.

Khalifa University's participation in GITEX Global 2025 and Expand North Star 2025, alongside the launch of TouchRipe, highlights the university's central role as a catalyst for developing national competencies, commercializing technology, and supporting the UAE's vision for a knowledge-based economy. These deep technologies are not limited to serving the local agricultural sector; they have the potential to become global solutions for ensuring food quality and reducing waste, thereby solidifying the UAE's status in technology-driven sustainable innovation.

**Conclusion:** The introduction of TouchRipe marks a defining moment in the UAE's journey toward technological self-sufficiency and global leadership in smart agriculture. By leveraging sophisticated AI and tactile sensory technology, Khalifa University has provided a practical, field-ready tool that directly addresses critical challenges in food security and supply chain efficiency worldwide. This dedication to commercializing deep research confirms the UAE's position as a dynamic hub for future technology, driving sustainable growth and proving that academic excellence can translate into tangible economic and environmental benefits.

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