An end effector includes a cutting mechanism, a gripping mechanism, and a pivot component. The cutting mechanism and the gripping mechanism are coupled to the pivot component. The cutting mechanism is coupled to a first portion of the pivot component and the gripping mechanism is coupled to a second portion of the pivot component.

The invention relates to an end-effector device and automated selective thinning system. The system includes vision acquisition hardware, kinematic targeting and heuristic programming, a robotic arm, and a pomologically designed end-effector. The system is utilized to improve efficiency for the fruit-thinning process in a tree orchard, such as peach thinning. By automating the mechanical process of fruit thinning, selective fruit-thinners can eliminate manual labor inputs and further enhance favorable blossom removal. Automation used in conjunction with a heuristic approach provides improvements to the system. The system may also be configured as a robotic arm or as a handheld system by including a battery and switching microcontroller with handle or wrist straps. Handheld thinning devices that are mechanical in nature may also be part of the system.

The invention relates to an end-effector device and automated selective thinning system. The system includes vision acquisition hardware, kinematic targeting and heuristic programming, a robotic arm, and a pomologically designed end-effector. The system is utilized to improve efficiency for the fruit-thinning process in a tree orchard, such as peach thinning. By automating the mechanical process of fruit thinning, selective fruit-thinners can eliminate manual labor inputs and further enhance favorable blossom removal. Automation used in conjunction with a heuristic approach provides improvements to the system. The system may also be configured as a robotic arm or as a handheld system by including a battery and switching microcontroller with handle or wrist straps. Handheld thinning devices that are mechanical in nature may also be part of the system.

A harvester selectively harvests edible crowns ready for harvesting. The harvester may include an imaging system for capturing image(s) of the edible crowns and a de-leafing component that removes leaves of the broccoli plant. For example, broccoli plants typically have an abundance of leaves that reside beneath, alongside of, and even above the edible crowns. The leaves may conceal the edible crowns and impact a quality of the image(s). The de-leafing component may be positioned in front of the imaging system, relative to a direction of travel of the harvester, to remove the leaves and isolate or expose the edible crown. Therein, the imaging system may image the edible crowns for use in determining whether the edible crowns are ready for harvesting.

A harvester selectively harvests edible crowns ready for harvesting. The harvester may include an imaging system for capturing image(s) of the edible crowns and a de-leafing component that removes leaves of the broccoli plant. For example, broccoli plants typically have an abundance of leaves that reside beneath, alongside of, and even above the edible crowns. The leaves may conceal the edible crowns and impact a quality of the image(s). The de-leafing component may be positioned in front of the imaging system, relative to a direction of travel of the harvester, to remove the leaves and isolate or expose the edible crown. Therein, the imaging system may image the edible crowns for use in determining whether the edible crowns are ready for harvesting.

A harvester that determines whether edible crowns are ready to be harvested and selectively harvests the edible crowns that are ready for harvesting. The harvester may include sensors, such as an imaging system, for detecting the edible crowns of individual broccoli plants. Image data from the imaging system may be provided as an input to a machine-learning model to determine a maturity (or immaturity) of the edible crowns. If the edible crowns are ready for harvesting, mechanical pickers harvest the edible crowns. For example, the harvester may include robotic arms having end effectors that cut the edible crowns from a remainder of the broccoli plant. The harvester may be configured to continuously harvest the edible crowns as the harvester moves about a field. In some instances, the harvester may include any number of robotic arms for harvesting the edible crowns across multiple rows of broccoli plants.

A harvester that determines whether edible crowns are ready to be harvested and selectively harvests the edible crowns that are ready for harvesting. The harvester may include sensors, such as an imaging system, for detecting the edible crowns of individual broccoli plants. Image data from the imaging system may be provided as an input to a machine-learning model to determine a maturity (or immaturity) of the edible crowns. If the edible crowns are ready for harvesting, mechanical pickers harvest the edible crowns. For example, the harvester may include robotic arms having end effectors that cut the edible crowns from a remainder of the broccoli plant. The harvester may be configured to continuously harvest the edible crowns as the harvester moves about a field. In some instances, the harvester may include any number of robotic arms for harvesting the edible crowns across multiple rows of broccoli plants.

A utility work device includes a main body section supported by a support and a working section supported by the main body section to perform a work on an object. The main body section is movable in a horizontal direction and a perpendicular direction.

A utility work device includes a main body section supported by a support and a working section supported by the main body section to perform a work on an object. The main body section is movable in a horizontal direction and a perpendicular direction.

In general terms a first aspect of the invention provides a modular robotic arm in which respective joint modules and/or end effector modules can be swapped or exchanged for a replacement module. The modules are interconnected by pairs of interlocking features that can be readily and repeatably interlocked and separated.