A system for harvesting produce from a tree has a drone capable of hovering, a video camera gathering visual data of movement, a cutting implement, a remote control station with a display screen, wireless circuitry, and input mechanisms to control movement of the drone and operation of the cutting implement, and circuitry in the body of the drone enabling two-way communication with the remote control station, transmission of video data from the video camera, and response to commands from the remote control station. The video data from the camera on the drone is displayed on the display screen of the remote control station, and an operator viewing the display screen operates the input mechanisms, maneuvering the drone to position the cutting implement relative to produce in the tree, and triggers the cutting implement by command, severing a stem to separate the produce, causing the produce to fall from the tree.

A system for harvesting produce from a tree has a drone capable of hovering, a video camera gathering visual data of movement, a cutting implement, a remote control station with a display screen, wireless circuitry, and input mechanisms to control movement of the drone and operation of the cutting implement, and circuitry in the body of the drone enabling two-way communication with the remote control station, transmission of video data from the video camera, and response to commands from the remote control station. The video data from the camera on the drone is displayed on the display screen of the remote control station, and an operator viewing the display screen operates the input mechanisms, maneuvering the drone to position the cutting implement relative to produce in the tree, and triggers the cutting implement by command, severing a stem to separate the produce, causing the produce to fall from the tree.

A system for harvesting produce from a tree has a drone capable of hovering, a video camera gathering visual data of movement, a cutting implement, a remote control station with a display screen, wireless circuitry, and input mechanisms to control movement of the drone and operation of the cutting implement, and circuitry in the body of the drone enabling two-way communication with the remote control station, transmission of video data from the video camera, and response to commands from the remote control station. The video data from the camera on the drone is displayed on the display screen of the remote control station, and an operator viewing the display screen operates the input mechanisms, maneuvering the drone to position the cutting implement relative to produce in the tree, and triggers the cutting implement by command, severing a stem to separate the produce, causing the produce to fall from the tree.

A system for harvesting produce from a tree has a drone capable of hovering, a video camera gathering visual data of movement, a cutting implement, a remote control station with a display screen, wireless circuitry, and input mechanisms to control movement of the drone and operation of the cutting implement, and circuitry in the body of the drone enabling two-way communication with the remote control station, transmission of video data from the video camera, and response to commands from the remote control station. The video data from the camera on the drone is displayed on the display screen of the remote control station, and an operator viewing the display screen operates the input mechanisms, maneuvering the drone to position the cutting implement relative to produce in the tree, and triggers the cutting implement by command, severing a stem to separate the produce, causing the produce to fall from the tree.

A system including a first carrier configured to carry at least one first robotic system. The system also can include a second carrier configured to be coupled to a vehicle that is movable across a surface. The first carrier can be movably coupled to and carried by the second carrier. The system can be configured to automatically hold the first carrier in a first position and stationary in a first direction with respect to the surface during a first time period while the vehicle moves the second carrier in the first direction with respect to the surface during the first time period, such that at least a portion the at least one first robotic system carried by the first carrier is stationary in the first direction with respect to the surface during the first time period. Other embodiments are provided.

An effector coupled to an automated harvesting apparatus, the effector comprising a sensor unit configured to obtain fruit cluster related data relating; a closed kinematic chain mechanism configured: to expand from a closed configuration to an expanded configuration; close from the expanded configuration to the closed configuration; harvesting shears configured to cut the fruit stem, said harvesting shears are coupled to the kinematical closed chain mechanism; a catch mechanism configured to catch the fruit stem after the fruit stem is cut by the harvesting shears; and, a processor configured to operate the effector to cut the fruit stem.

An effector coupled to an automated harvesting apparatus, the effector comprising a sensor unit configured to obtain fruit cluster related data relating; a closed kinematic chain mechanism configured: to expand from a closed configuration to an expanded configuration; close from the expanded configuration to the closed configuration; harvesting shears configured to cut the fruit stem, said harvesting shears are coupled to the kinematical closed chain mechanism; a catch mechanism configured to catch the fruit stem after the fruit stem is cut by the harvesting shears; and, a processor configured to operate the effector to cut the fruit stem.

A plant harvesting system is provided for use with a vertical hydroponic tower, the hydroponic tower containing a plurality of vertically aligned plants. The harvesting system includes a payload transport system and a harvester. The payload transport system, which is configured to be positioned at a location adjacent to the hydroponic tower, includes a base and a lift tower, the lift tower including a motorized lift system configured to move the harvester upward and downward. In addition to cutting plant stalks while moving upwards along the face of the hydroponic tower, the harvester also groups and collects the plant leafs.

A robotic fruit picking system includes an autonomous robot that includes a positioning subsystem that enables autonomous positioning of the robot using a computer vision guidance system. The robot also includes at least one picking arm and at least one picking head, or other type of end effector, mounted on each picking arm to either cut a stem or branch for a specific fruit or bunch of fruits or pluck that fruit or bunch. A computer vision subsystem analyses images of the fruit to be picked or stored and a control subsystem is programmed with or learns picking strategies using machine learning techniques. A quality control (QC) subsystem monitors the quality of fruit and grades that fruit according to size and/or quality. The robot has a storage subsystem for storing fruit in containers for storage or transportation, or in punnets for retail.

A method of manufacturing and using a five-device-in-one multi-function and multi-orientation carapace system comprises the steps of: Sewing at least one first three-dimensional contour-conforming carapace dome panel and at least one second three-dimensional contour-conforming carapace dome panel together such that at least one water-directing ball-directing fruit-directing dome-bisecting transverse seam and at least one water-directing-and-ejecting ball-directing-and-ejecting fruit-directing-and-ejecting cross-cutting seam are formed; Attaching the at least one first and the at least one second three-dimensional contour-conforming carapace dome panels to the interchangeable splines, respectively; Attaching the at least one first and the at least one second outer edges of the at least one first and the least one second three-dimensional contour-conforming carapace dome panels to the spline ends of the interchangeable splines, respectively; Adjusting the angle of the carapace-supporting angled arm; and Locking the carapace-tilting-and-multi-orienting snap-locking handle to the multi-height-adjustable carapace stanchion.