Abstract: A hop yard stringing system which includes: a trailer mounted worker platform; a measuring and cutting device which automatically measures and cuts bine support lines of desired length for attachment to overhead trellis lines; a plunger assembly on the back end of the trailer for staking the lower ends of the lines into the ground; a line transfer device which transfers the lower ends of the lines to the plunger assembly; an anchor forming assembly which forms staking anchors for the plunger assembly; a line tension monitoring system for the staked lines; and a GPS system which activates the plunger to stake the lines at predetermined GPS locations.

Abstract: An inspection and cutting apparatus which employs a reciprocally moveable cutting knife includes an elongated main body having opposite ends; and a protrusion is integral with the elongated main body, and which inhibits an adhesive force from being created between the outside facing surface of the elongated main body, and the adjacent sidewalls of a knife guidance track when a source of water wets the outside surface of the elongated main body and the adjacent spaced sidewalls of the knife guidance channel.

Abstract: A reciprocally moveable cutting knife is described and which includes an elongated main body having a first, and an opposite, second end for engaging an object of interest; and a protrusion is made integral with the elongated main body and which extends outwardly from a plane which is defined by the outside facing surface of the main body, and which inhibits an adhesion from being created between the outside facing surface of the elongated main body, and the respective sidewalls of a knife guidance track when a source of water wets the outside surface of the elongated main body and the spaced sidewalls of the knife guidance channel.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus for use on a stream of discrete objects is described and which includes a conveying surface for transporting a stream of discrete objects; an image capturing device for capturing images of the discrete objects; a controller coupled to the image capturing device and which identifies foreign objects and unacceptable features of objects being processed; a voice coil actuator mounted above the conveying surface; and a knife mounted on the voice coil actuator and which is reciprocally moved into and out of engagement with objects passing therebeneath.

Abstract: A fiber grating environmental sensing system is described that has the ability to measure strain, vibration, humidity and water content. Fiber gratings are used to measure axial strain to accomplish these goals. An approach is described that uses matched fiber grating sensors and filters to allow for thermal compensation greatly reducing one of the key performance issues facing these systems. The system may be deployed in such applications as roadways and paved surfaces, bridges, buildings and aircraft and spacecraft. Means are described to implement transducers optimized for specific environmental measurements as well as means to demodulate the fiber grating sensors.

Abstract: A fiber grating environmental sensing system is described that has the ability to measure strain, vibration, humidity and water content. Fiber gratings are used to measure axial strain to accomplish these goals. An approach is described that uses matched fiber grating sensors and filters to allow for thermal compensation greatly reducing one of the key performance issues facing these systems. The system may be deployed in such applications as roadways and paved surfaces, bridges, buildings and aircraft and spacecraft. Means are described to implement transducers optimized for specific environmental measurements as well as means to demodulate the fiber grating sensors.