The present invention relates to a method for determining a thickness of a tree trunk (17) in a harvesting head (1) for forestry, said harvesting head (1) comprising a tree trunk pressing device (3, 4, 7, 8), and a tree trunk surface follower (11, 11), wherein the tree trunk surface follower is a limbing member (11, 11′), and wherein the limbing member (11, 11′) is curved, said method comprising pressing the tree trunk (17), with said tree trunk pressing device (3, 4, 7, 8), in a direction towards a reference surface (15) of the harvesting head (1) and determining a measured thickness (T) by measuring the position of the tree trunk pressing device (3, 4, 7, 8) and relating said position to said reference surface (15), said method further comprising the steps of determining a deviation (D) of the tree trunk (17) from said reference surface (15) by measuring a position of the tree trunk surface follower (11, 11′) and relating said position of the tree trunk surface follower (11, 11′) to said reference surface (15), and calculating a corrected thickness (Tc) of the tree trunk (17) based on said measured thickness (T) and said deviation (D), wherein determining the deviation (D) further comprises relating said position of the tree trunk surface follower (11, 11′) to said measured thickness (T).

Problems to be Solved

To provide an unmanned aerial vehicle capable of achieving both of equipping a pruning structure capable of pruning trees and enhancing safety.

Solution

An unmanned aerial vehicle 2 according to the present invention includes a pruning structure 23 capable of pruning a tree; a housing structure 24 capable of housing the pruning structure 23 inside; and a state control section 212 capable of controlling the state of the pruning structure 23 between a housed state in which the pruning structure 23 is housed inside the housing structure 24 and an exposed state in which the pruning structure 23 is exposed to the outside of the housing structure 24, wherein the state control section 212 can control the state of the pruning structure 23 to the housed state on landing. The state control section 212 preferable to control the state of the pruning structure 23 to the exposed state when a distance from the unmanned aerial vehicle 2 to a target tree to be pruned equal to or shorter than the predetermined distance, and to control the state of the pruning structure 23 to the housed state when a distance from the unmanned aerial vehicle 2 to the target tree longer than the predetermined distance.

Problems to be Solved

To provide an unmanned aerial vehicle capable of achieving both of equipping a pruning structure capable of pruning trees and enhancing safety.

Solution

An unmanned aerial vehicle 2 according to the present invention includes a pruning structure 23 capable of pruning a tree; a housing structure 24 capable of housing the pruning structure 23 inside; and a state control section 212 capable of controlling the state of the pruning structure 23 between a housed state in which the pruning structure 23 is housed inside the housing structure 24 and an exposed state in which the pruning structure 23 is exposed to the outside of the housing structure 24, wherein the state control section 212 can control the state of the pruning structure 23 to the housed state on landing. The state control section 212 preferable to control the state of the pruning structure 23 to the exposed state when a distance from the unmanned aerial vehicle 2 to a target tree to be pruned equal to or shorter than the predetermined distance, and to control the state of the pruning structure 23 to the housed state when a distance from the unmanned aerial vehicle 2 to the target tree longer than the predetermined distance.

A cannabis trimming assembly includes a pair of conveyors for transporting a cannabis plant. A trimming housing is positioned between the pair of conveyors to receive the cannabis plant. A pair of trap doors is each movably integrated into the trimming housing. A plurality of cameras is each integrated into the trimming housing to view the cannabis plant. A plurality of laser emitters is each integrated into the trimming housing and each of the laser emitters is guided by the cameras to trim shade leaves and buds from the cannabis. A grapping claw is integrated into the trimming housing to hang the cannabis plant in the trimming housing during trimming.

A cannabis trimming assembly includes a pair of conveyors for transporting a cannabis plant. A trimming housing is positioned between the pair of conveyors to receive the cannabis plant. A pair of trap doors is each movably integrated into the trimming housing. A plurality of cameras is each integrated into the trimming housing to view the cannabis plant. A plurality of laser emitters is each integrated into the trimming housing and each of the laser emitters is guided by the cameras to trim shade leaves and buds from the cannabis. A grapping claw is integrated into the trimming housing to hang the cannabis plant in the trimming housing during trimming.

The present invention provides an improved, autonomous unmanned aircraft vehicle (UAV) for harvesting or diluting fruit, and a control unit for coordinating flight and/or harvesting missions thereof, as well as a system and method for harvesting fruits.

A robotic pruning apparatus that can be adapted to fit around a variety of trees and can move along the length of the tree while performing a variety of pruning operations. The pruning apparatus can be configured with a variety of different cutting heads that have multiple degrees of freedom of movement such that they can be used to perform any number of cutting operations along the length of the tree. The apparatus can be remotely operated by a human or can be autonomous or semi-autonomous.

An aerial vegetation trimming system. The aerial vegetation trimming system may include a saw assembly, wherein the saw assembly may include a plurality of saw blades disposed along a length of a beam. The aerial vegetation trimming system may further include an electric motor operatively connected to the saw assembly, wherein the electric motor is configured to drive the plurality of saw blades; and at least one boom disposed between the electric motor and a vehicle, wherein the at least one boom is configured to connect the saw assembly to the vehicle.

A system for a hydraulic tree branch shear including a skid-steer loader and a shear assembly. The skid-steer loader of the system for a hydraulic tree branch shear may be an existing skid-steer loader adapter to have the shear assembly attached thereon. The shear assembly is powered by a hydraulic attachment that is configured to be powered from the skid-steer loader. Additionally, the controls for the shear assembly are configured to be attached to the existing controls of the skid-steer loader. The shear assembly is mounted to the skid-steer loader and allows a user to cut down hard to reach tree branches from the comfort of the skid-steer loader. Furthermore, the use of the skid steer loader provides a user protection from having tree branches falling on the user's head.

A human-robot system and method for performing an agricultural task, the system including: a robotic manipulator with an agricultural tool coupled to an end effector thereof; an imaging device adapted to capture imagery of a target, the imaging device mechanically coupled to the end effector; a laser distance sensor adapted to measure a distance between the manipulator and the target, the laser distance sensor mechanically coupled to the end effector and collocated with the imaging device; and a control unit including: a processing unit, a monitor and a human-machine interface (HMI), wherein the processing unit is configured to display the imagery on the monitor and to receive markings from the HMI and calculate a trajectory for the manipulator to perform the agricultural task with the tool.