Robotic systems and specialized end-effectors provide for automated harvesting of produce such as fresh market apples. An underactuated design using tendons and flexure joints with passive compliance increases robustness to position error, overcoming a significant limitation of previous fruit harvesting end-effectors. Some devices use open-loop control, provide a shape-adaptive grasp, and produce contact forces similar to those used during optimal hand picking patterns. Other benefits include relatively low weight, low cost, and simplicity.

Robotic systems and specialized end-effectors provide for automated harvesting of produce such as fresh market apples. An underactuated design using tendons and flexure joints with passive compliance increases robustness to position error, overcoming a significant limitation of previous fruit harvesting end-effectors. Some devices use open-loop control, provide a shape-adaptive grasp, and produce contact forces similar to those used during optimal hand picking patterns. Other benefits include relatively low weight, low cost, and simplicity.

An agricultural system comprises a stalk-diameter sensing system associated with a row unit and configured to sense diameter-related data of respective stalks and generate signals based on the diameter-related data. Deck plates associated with the row unit are spaced apart to define a deck plate spacing. A deck plate positioning system is coupled to at least one of the deck plates to adjust the deck plate spacing. A control system is configured to communicate with the stalk-diameter sensing system and the deck plate positioning system. The control system is configured to receive the signals, determine a statistical representative stalk diameter for a sample of stalks based on the diameter-related data, determine a target deck plate spacing based on the statistical representative stalk diameter, and output a control signal to command the deck plate positioning system to set the deck plate spacing based on the target deck plate spacing.