Abstract: An automated object sorting system is provided. In various embodiments, the automated object sorting system includes an automated object extraction assembly and an automated object collection assembly. The automated object extraction assembly extracts one or more objects from an object sorting tray based on one or more attributes and/or traits of interest. The automated collection assembly selectively deposits the extracted objects in selected collection receptacles according to the particular attributes and/or traits of each respective object.

Abstract: An automated method for sampling seeds generally includes removing material from a seed at an automated sampling station and then, after removing the material from the seed, detecting, by at least one sensor, movement of the seed out of the automated sampling station. The automated method may also include, after removing the material from the seed, transferring the seed from the automated sampling station to a seed container and transferring the material removed from the seed from the automated sampling station to a sample container.

Abstract: An automated seed sampler system for removing tissue from seeds includes an orientation system configured to orient seeds in a desired orientation, a sampling station configured to remove tissue from each of the oriented seeds, a sample collection subsystem configured to receive the tissue removed from each of the oriented seeds, and a seed collection subsystem configured to receive each of the seeds from which the tissue is removed. The sample collection subsystem and the seed collection subsystem are configured to facilitate a one-to-one correspondence between the seeds received at the seed collection subsystem and the tissue removed from the seeds and received at the sample collection subsystem.

Abstract: An automated method for operating an automated seed sampling system having a seed loading station, a seed transport subsystem, and a seed sampling station generally includes sensing whether individual seeds are successfully isolated from a bulk of seeds at the seed loading station, and sensing whether the isolated seeds are properly positioned by the seed transport subsystem adjacent the seed sampling station in preparation for removing tissue from the isolated seeds. In some aspects, the method further includes analyzing the tissue removed from the seeds for presence or absence of at least one characteristic, and selecting seeds based on presence or absence of the at least one characteristic.

Abstract: An automated seed sampler system includes an orientation system configured to orient a seed, and a sampling station configured to remove tissue from the oriented seed. In addition, a method for removing tissue from seeds includes positioning multiple seeds together in a desired orientation in a seed transport subsystem, and removing tissue from the oriented seeds while the seeds are in the seed transport subsystem.

Abstract: An automated object sorting system is provided. In various embodiments, the automated object sorting system includes an automated object extraction assembly and an automated object collection assembly. The automated object extraction assembly extracts one or more objects from an object sorting tray based on one or more attributes and/or traits of interest. The automated collection assembly selectively deposits the extracted objects in selected collection receptacles according to the particular attributes and/or traits of each respective object.

Abstract: A method is provided for use in analyzing seeds, in a population of seeds, for one or more desired characteristic. The method includes removing tissue from individual seeds in a population of seeds using an automated seed sampler, while preserving germination viability of the seeds, and analyzing the tissue for the presence or absence of one or more desired characteristic. The method then includes, based on the analysis of the tissue, quantifying the one or more desired characteristic for each of the individual seeds that possess the one or more desired characteristic.

Abstract: An automated object sorting system is provided. In various embodiments, the automated object sorting system includes an automated object extraction assembly and an automated object collection assembly. The automated object extraction assembly extracts one or more objects from an object sorting tray based on one or more attributes and/or traits of interest. The automated collection assembly selectively deposits the extracted objects in selected collection receptacles according to the particular attributes and/or traits of each respective object.

Abstract: A method is provided for use in a plant breeding program to generate a population having one or more desired traits. The method includes removing a tissue sample from each of one or more seeds using an automated seed sampler while preserving germination viability of the sampled seeds; analyzing the tissue samples for the presence or absence of a genetic sequence associated with at least one desired trait; based on the analysis of the tissue samples, cultivating plants from the sampled seeds that either possess or lack the genetic sequence associated with the at least one desired trait; creating a parental cross using at least one of the cultivated plants; and selecting seeds from the parental cross and cultivating offspring of the parental cross using the selected seeds.

Abstract: An automated method for sampling seeds generally includes removing material from a seed at an automated sampling station and then, after removing the material from the seed, detecting, by at least one sensor, movement of the seed out of the automated sampling station. The automated method may also include, after removing the material from the seed, transferring the seed from the automated sampling station to a seed container and transferring the material removed from the seed from the automated sampling station to a sample container.

Abstract: An automated method for removing tissue from a seed is provided. The automated method includes singulating a seed from a plurality of seeds and imaging the singulated seed to obtain at least one characteristic of the seed. The automated method further includes positioning the singulated seed in a sampler of an automated seed sampling assembly and removing, by the sampler, tissue from the singulated seed based on the at least one characteristic of the seed.

Abstract: An automated system for sampling seeds generally includes an automated sampling station having a sampler configured to remove material from a seed while protecting germination viability of the seed, a seed conveyor configured to receive the seed from out of the sampling station after the material is removed from the seed, and a sample conveyor configured to receive the material removed from the seed. The sample conveyor is configured to locate the material removed from the seed in a sample container, and the seed conveyor is configured to locate the seed from which the material is removed in a seed container so as to facilitate a one-to-one correspondence between the seed and the material removed from the seed.

Abstract: A seed sampling system is provided having an automated seed loading assembly including a seed bin and being operable to singulate seeds from a plurality of seeds within the seed bin. The system also includes an automated seed sampling assembly operable to remove tissue samples from the singulated seeds, and an automated seed transport assembly operable to transfer the singulated seeds from the seed loading assembly to the seed sampling assembly. The seed transport assembly includes multiple retention members. Each of the retention members is movable relative to the seed loading assembly and to the seed sampling assembly. The seed transport assembly is operable to position one of the multiple retention members adjacent to the seed loading assembly for engaging one of the singulated seeds, while positioning another of the retention members adjacent to the seed sampling assembly for presenting another of the singulated seeds to the seed sampling assembly.

Abstract: An automated method for operating an automated seed sampling system having a seed loading station, a seed transport subsystem, and a seed sampling station generally includes sensing whether individual seeds are successfully isolated from a bulk of seeds at the seed loading station, and sensing whether the isolated seeds are properly positioned by the seed transport subsystem adjacent the seed sampling station in preparation for removing tissue from the isolated seeds. In some aspects, the method further includes analyzing the tissue removed from the seeds for presence or absence of at least one characteristic, and selecting seeds based on presence or absence of the at least one characteristic.

Abstract: A seed sorting system for sorting seeds includes a seed transfer station configured to move seeds through the system. An imaging assembly includes a 2D camera configured to acquire 2D images of the seeds as the seeds move through the system and a 3D camera configured to acquire 3D images of the seeds as the seeds move through the system. A sorting assembly is configured to sort the seeds into separate bins based on the acquired 2D and 3D images of the seeds.

Abstract: An automated method for analyzing seeds generally includes collecting image data from individual seeds using a seed sampling system, determining at least one characteristic of each of the individual seeds based on the collected image data, and removing tissue from each of the individual seeds using the seed sampling system. The method also includes, prior to removing the tissue sample from each of the individual seeds, adjusting at least one operational parameter of the seed sampling system based on the at least one characteristic of the seed from which the tissue is to be removed to thereby allow for generally consistent removal of tissue from each of the individual seeds. In some aspects, the method further includes analyzing the tissue removed from the seeds for presence or absence of at least one characteristic, and selecting seeds based on presence or absence of the at least one characteristic.

Abstract: An automated seed sampler system includes an orientation system configured to orient a seed, and a sampling station configured to remove tissue from the oriented seed. In addition, a method for removing tissue from seeds includes positioning multiple seeds together in a desired orientation in a seed transport subsystem, and removing tissue from the oriented seeds while the seeds are in the seed transport subsystem.

Abstract: An automated seed sampler system includes an orientation system configured to orient a seed, and a sampling station configured to remove tissue from the oriented seed. In addition, a method for removing tissue from seeds includes positioning multiple seeds together in a desired orientation in a seed transport subsystem, and removing tissue from the oriented seeds while the seeds are in the seed transport subsystem.

Abstract: An automated system for sampling seeds generally includes an automated sampling station having a sampler configured to remove material from a seed while protecting germination viability of the seed, a seed conveyor configured to receive the seed from out of the sampling station after the material is removed from the seed, and a sample conveyor configured to receive the material removed from the seed. The sample conveyor is configured to locate the material removed from the seed in a sample container, and the seed conveyor is configured to locate the seed from which the material is removed in a seed container so as to facilitate a one-to-one correspondence between the seed and the material removed from the seed.

Abstract: An automated system for sampling seeds generally includes an automated sampling station having a sampler configured to remove material from a seed while protecting germination viability of the seed, a seed conveyor configured to receive the seed from out of the sampling station after the material is removed from the seed, and a sample conveyor configured to receive the material removed from the seed. The sample conveyor is configured to locate the material removed from the seed in a sample container, and the seed conveyor is configured to locate the seed from which the material is removed in a seed container so as to facilitate a one-to-one correspondence between the seed and the material removed from the seed.