Method and apparatus for automated operations, such as pruning, harvesting, spraying and/or maintenance, on plants, and particularly plants with foliage having features on many length scales or a wide spectrum of length scales, such as female flower buds of the marijuana plant. The invention utilizes a convolutional neural network for image segmentation classification and/or the determination of features. The foliage is imaged stereoscopically to produce a three-dimensional surface image, a first neural network determines regions to be operated on, and a second neural network determines how an operation tool operates on the foliage. For pruning of resinous foliage the cutting tool is heated or cooled to avoid having the resins make the cutting tool inoperable.

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.

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.

The present application relates to a hedge trimmer. A rear machine body can rotate relative to a front machine body. The rear machine body includes a rotary unlocking trigger and a microswitch disposed on one side of the rotary unlocking trigger. The microswitch is a normally closed switch and is electrically connected to a power supply circuit. The rotary unlocking trigger has a first position and a second position relative to the front machine body. In response to the rotary unlocking trigger is at the first position, the rear machine body is fixed relative to the front machine body, and the power supply circuit is conducted; in response to the rotary unlocking trigger is at the second position, the rear machine body rotates relative to the front machine body, and the power supply circuit is disconnected.

A pruner is provided including a pruning mechanism including a pruning blade on a tip side, a pole connected to a base side of the pruning mechanism, and a hook mechanism including a hook that projects to a lateral side substantially orthogonal to a central axis of the pole and that is displaceable in a range from a first position where an end portion is away from the central axis to a second position where the end portion is close to the central axis. The hook is configured to keep the first position when first external force in a direction from the base side toward the tip side is applied, and be displaced from the first position to the second position when second external force in a direction from the tip side toward the base side and/or a direction from the lateral side toward the central axis is applied.

A tool is provided, the tool including a handle, a tool head, a first gear, a compound gear, a shaft, and an actuating member coupled to the shaft. The handle extends along a longitudinal direction. The tool head is configured to receive a motive force to selectively engage or disengage the tool head. The first gear is operably coupled to the tool head. The compound gear is selectively coupled to the first gear. The shaft extends through the compound gear and is affixed to the shaft. The actuating member is coupled to the handle. Movement of the actuating member along the longitudinal direction selectively engages or disengages the compound gear and the first gear.

A tool is provided, the tool including a handle, a tool head, a first gear, a compound gear, a shaft, and an actuating member coupled to the shaft. The handle extends along a longitudinal direction. The tool head is configured to receive a motive force to selectively engage or disengage the tool head. The first gear is operably coupled to the tool head. The compound gear is selectively coupled to the first gear. The shaft extends through the compound gear and is affixed to the shaft. The actuating member is coupled to the handle. Movement of the actuating member along the longitudinal direction selectively engages or disengages the compound gear and the first gear.

A cutting tool includes a body formed by a first wall, a second wall, and a third wall, extending outward from a base. The first wall, second wall, third wall and the base define a trough in the body. The cutting tool further includes a blade holder in the trough, the blade holder pivotally engaged to the body, a strut assembly in the trough, the strut assembly pivotally engaged to the blade holder and pivotally engaged to the body, a blade in the blade holder, a blade channel in the body and extending through a third wall so as to receive the blade, at least one angled body channel in the body and wherein the blade holder is pivotable relative to the body to enable the blade to cut through a plant stem or tree branch present in the blade channel and the at least one angled body channel.

A rope and rope handle storage device comprising a looped body mounted on a pole, and a pair of attachment barbs attached to one side of the looped body. The attachment barbs are configured to have a space between them that can hold a rope or a securing piece attached to a rope handle. The rope and rope handle storage device stores the rope by clipping the rope into the space between the attachment barbs, and stores the rope handle by clipping the securing piece attached to the rope handle into the space between the attachment barbs.

A rope and rope handle storage device comprising a looped body mounted on a pole, and a pair of attachment barbs attached to one side of the looped body. The attachment barbs are configured to have a space between them that can hold a rope or a securing piece attached to a rope handle. The rope and rope handle storage device stores the rope by clipping the rope into the space between the attachment barbs, and stores the rope handle by clipping the securing piece attached to the rope handle into the space between the attachment barbs.