Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A system for monitoring individual food intake of a livestock animal includes a calibration system configured to measure weight or volume of food intake of an animal over a pre-defined period of time and to calibrate a mathematical model for the animal based on the measure, a tracking system configured track animal eating behavior at times other than the pre-defined period of time and a computing system. The pre-defined period of time is less than three weeks. The mathematical model relates eating behavior of the animal and defined physiological parameters of the animal with food intake. The computing system determines food intake of the animal over a lactation period based on the mathematical model for the animal as calibrated and the eating behavior at the times other than the pre-defined period of time.