A device usable for picking up puncturevine burrs comprises a cylindrical roller member, a scraper, a catch, a support member, and a handle member. The cylindrical roller member has a rotational axis and has an outside surface layer made of a resilient material such that the burrs will readily stick into the material. The scraper scrapes the surface of the roller member when the roller member rotates about its rotational axis. The support member holds the scraper and catch so that the scraper scrapes over the surface of the roller member during rotation. In operation, a user pushes the device over the area of the ground with burrs. Under the weight of the device itself, the burrs are picked up by the roller member and are scraped off of the roller member by the scraper, and are retained by the catch. Burrs that collect in the catch are disposed of.

A device usable for picking up puncturevine burrs comprises a cylindrical roller member, a scraper, a catch, a support member, and a handle member. The cylindrical roller member has a rotational axis and has an outside surface layer made of a resilient material such that the burrs will readily stick into the material. The scraper scrapes the surface of the roller member when the roller member rotates about its rotational axis. The support member holds the scraper and catch so that the scraper scrapes over the surface of the roller member during rotation. In operation, a user pushes the device over the area of the ground with burrs. Under the weight of the device itself, the burrs are picked up by the roller member and are scraped off of the roller member by the scraper, and are retained by the catch. Burrs that collect in the catch are disposed of.

A method is provided for converting a bow rod harvester into a trunk shaker harvester. In the bow rod harvester, a plurality of bow rods are attached to an oscillating member that is configured to reciprocate about a first vertical axis of a first vertical shaft of the bow rod harvester. In the conversion, the plurality of bow rods are removed from the oscillating member and a shaker rail is coupled to the oscillating member.

A harvesting device includes a cutting unit, a moving mechanism, a first detection unit, and a drive unit. The cutting unit is a component for cutting a peduncle. The moving mechanism moves a cutting unit in such a front-rear direction as to approach and separate the peduncle. The first detection unit is a component for detecting that the peduncle is within a cuttable range. The drive unit moves the cutting unit 1 toward the cuttable range in a case where the first detection unit detects that the peduncle is within the cuttable range.

A harvesting device includes a cutting unit, a moving mechanism, a first detection unit, and a drive unit. The cutting unit is a component for cutting a peduncle. The moving mechanism moves a cutting unit in such a front-rear direction as to approach and separate the peduncle. The first detection unit is a component for detecting that the peduncle is within a cuttable range. The drive unit moves the cutting unit 1 toward the cuttable range in a case where the first detection unit detects that the peduncle is within the cuttable range.

The invention relates to a method of growing a crop comprising the steps of: growing a seedling (1) in a first growing substrate plug/pellet (2,4), placing the substrate plug/pellet (2,4) in a holder member (10,20), the holder member comprising a tubular body (11,23) and a flange (12,24) extending transversely to the tubular body, the body having a bottom (13, 22) with a root opening, placing a number of holder members in a growth tray (25; 35,36,37), the growth tray having a bottom (26) and upstanding sidewalls (27,28), defining an irrigation space that is adapted for receiving water and nutrients, and a top surface (29) spaced from the bottom (26), with openings (30,31) for receiving a holder member (10,20), the flange (12,24) being supported on the top surface (29), the bottom (26) being in fluid communication with the irrigation space, placing growth trays (25; 35,36,37) in a conditioned growth chamber (40) and exposing the plants to artificial light, after a predetermined period of time, removing of the growth trays to a harvesting area (50), removing the crop from the holder members (10,20) and transporting the crop through a harvesting device (52, 70) for separating fruit from leaves, and collecting the fruit.

A pollen collection device for collecting pollen from crop plants grown in rows includes a housing assembly configured to be mounted on a base for being transported through a row of crop plants. The housing assembly receives at least a portion of the plants as the housing assembly is transported through the row of crop plants. An agitation assembly is attached to the housing assembly for agitating the plants as the housing assembly is transported through the row of crop plants to displace pollen from the plants. A pollen collection assembly is attached to the housing assembly for collecting the pollen displaced from the plants as the housing assembly is transported through the row of crop plants.

A pollen collection device for collecting pollen from crop plants grown in rows includes a housing assembly configured to be mounted on a base for being transported through a row of crop plants. The housing assembly receives at least a portion of the plants as the housing assembly is transported through the row of crop plants. An agitation assembly is attached to the housing assembly for agitating the plants as the housing assembly is transported through the row of crop plants to displace pollen from the plants. A pollen collection assembly is attached to the housing assembly for collecting the pollen displaced from the plants as the housing assembly is transported through the row of crop plants.

The disclosure includes embodiments for an analysis system. A method according to some embodiments is executed by a graphics processing unit. The method includes generating input data including image data captured with a monocular camera operating in a field environment wherein the image data describes a two-dimensional image of the field environment. The method includes analyzing the input data to generate output data describing a three-dimensional graphic of the field environment depicted in the two-dimensional image. In some embodiments, the output data localizes objects, such as a mobile field device upon which the monocular camera is mounted, within the field environment. In some embodiments, the output data localizes any tangible object located within the field environment with an accuracy that satisfies a threshold for accuracy. The method includes modifying an operation of an autonomous control system of a mobile field device based on the output data.

The disclosure includes embodiments for an analysis system. A method according to some embodiments is executed by a graphics processing unit. The method includes generating input data including image data captured with a monocular camera operating in a field environment wherein the image data describes a two-dimensional image of the field environment. The method includes analyzing the input data to generate output data describing a three-dimensional graphic of the field environment depicted in the two-dimensional image. In some embodiments, the output data localizes objects, such as a mobile field device upon which the monocular camera is mounted, within the field environment. In some embodiments, the output data localizes any tangible object located within the field environment with an accuracy that satisfies a threshold for accuracy. The method includes modifying an operation of an autonomous control system of a mobile field device based on the output data.