Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Path: brunix!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!agate!deep.rsoft.bc.ca!mindlink!a50
From: Cliff_Lum@mindlink.bc.ca (Cliff Lum)
Subject: Re: Agribots (Chomp ! Chomp ! )
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Date: Tue, 10 Aug 1993 23:29:26 GMT
Message-ID: <27689@mindlink.bc.ca>
Sender: news@deep.rsoft.bc.ca (Usenet News at rsoft.bc.ca)
Lines: 88

> richards@tardis.mdcorp.ksc.nasa.gov writes:
>
> Msg-ID: <1993Aug10.105934.1@tardis.mdcorp.ksc.nasa.gov>
> Posted: 10 Aug 93 10:59:34 -0500
>
> Org.  : MDSSC-KSC
>
>
>
>
> I am currently investigating the use of (physical) automation and robotics
> in agriculture.  Specifically, I am interested in their application to the
> following : pre-planting preparation (seedlings), planting, growth
> monitoring/operation, harvesting, post-harvest storage, and edible biomass
> processing to name a few applications of interest.
>
> If anyone is curently involved in or aware of research efforts or
> production systems addressing any of these applications, I would appreciate
> any additional information you could provide.  I am especially interested
> in any COTS which might be currently in use to automate some aspect of
> agriculture.  Any relevant technology, from image processing systems which
> recognize plant maturity to specialized end-effectors for planting or
> harvesting would be useful to my effort.
>
> Please e-mail responses, since I infrequently read this newsgroup.  I will
> compile all responses for future posting/email for those of you also
> interested in this subject.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
>       _
>      / \
>     /   \
>  /\|  _  |/\
> |  | / \ |  |            Brian Richardson
> |  || = ||  |
> |  ||   ||  |            McDonnell Douglas Space Systems
> |  ||   ||  |            Kennedy Space Center, FL
> |  /|   |\  |
> | / |   | \ |
> |/  |   |  \|            email: richards@tardis.mdcorp.ksc.nasa.gov
> /___|   |___\
> |  |/   \|  |
> /  \- | -/  \
> ----     ----

Well as far as seedlings go it is partly automated already. A seedling
planter is basically a tractor implement hooked up on the back end of the
tractor.
speed is controlled by V-belt sheeves. basically a gripper made up of old
rubber tires grip the seedling while the implement digs the hole, places the
seedling and covers it back up.

   <   -- this digs or pushes soil aside to create a hole

   U   --- a gripper accepts the seedling and closes and opens at the bottom

   >  ---  pushes soil to cover the roots of the plant.

 Also there is a container for storing the seedlings from the greenhouse and
 seats for little old chinese ladies or whatever in the USA to place the
seedlings in the gripper and shake excess dirt of the seedling plants from
the greenhouse. This is one part that still needs cheap human labour.

Planting seeds is not difficult there are lots of seed planters. Just need
some sensors to detect jamming in the seed bin to ensure seeds are being
deposited. Otherwise 2 months later , hmmm plants here but a few rows of
nothing.

Harvesting I think is not cost effective for automation by robots.
Harvesting machines do exist but they essentially pick everything and the
plant is destroyed in the process when stripping off exess mterial like the
stalk. Thus you pick mature product and also not fully developed food also as
in the case of corn and beans. Stuff like blueberries, strawberries are to
fragile to be handled by machines.

 I think the hardest job is the cane sugar pickers job, its dangerous and
dirty. They burn the fields to get rid of the vegetaion then pickers with
machetes go and cut down the sugar canes.

Best to get some info from farm machinery manufactures also.
Massey fergeson, john deere, etc...

Hope that helps
cliff



