Abstract: A system, apparatus and method are provided for robotically assisting the harvest of a crop. Instrumented picker carts include sensors for detecting amounts of harvested crop (e.g., fill ratios) of containers carried by the carts, communication modules for communicating their locations and detected crop amounts to a field computer, and components for signaling for robotic service. The field computer predicts when a cart that requests service will have a full container and where it will be located at that time, then decides whether to approve the request. If the request is approved, a robot is assigned and is given (or generates) a path to the cart's predicted location, and begins moving toward the location so as to arrive near (and preferably before) the predicted time. Robots include means for moving (e.g., wheels, motors, steering components, power sources), navigation modules, computing components for controlling their movement, and communication modules.

Abstract: An automated apparatus for removing the tops (calyx) of strawberries as they move along a conveyor belt having a plurality of concave-shaped slotted rollers which operate to orient the calyx of each strawberry for being cut. Images are captured and processed for locating the calyx of each strawberry and determining an optimal cutting plane. In response to the image processing a control system actuates a blade in a cutting apparatus to pass through the produce item and into one of the slots in a roller, or rollers, to separate the calyx from the body of the strawberry.

Abstract: According to some embodiments of the invention, an adjusting device for adjusting a passive drip irrigation valve to enable precision irrigation includes a device body configured to be at least one of hand-held or attachable to a robot, the device body having a manipulator end, and a manipulator assembly contained within and extending from the manipulator end of the device body. The manipulator assembly includes a coarse alignment adjustment assembly constructed and arranged to align the adjusting device with the passive drip irrigation valve. The manipulator assembly also includes a fine actuator configured to rotate the passive drip irrigation valve by a specified angle.

Abstract: According to some embodiments of the invention, an adjusting device for adjusting a passive drip irrigation valve to enable precision irrigation includes a device body configured to be at least one of hand-held or attachable to a robot, the device body having a manipulator end, and a manipulator assembly contained within and extending from the manipulator end of the device body. The manipulator assembly includes a coarse alignment adjustment assembly constructed and arranged to align the adjusting device with the passive drip irrigation valve. The manipulator assembly also includes a fine actuator configured to rotate the passive drip irrigation valve by a specified angle.

Abstract: An automated apparatus for removing the tops (calyx) of strawberries as they move along a conveyor belt having a plurality of concave-shaped slotted rollers which operate to orient the calyx of each strawberry for being cut. Images are captured and processed for locating the calyx of each strawberry and determining an optimal cutting plane. In response to the image processing a control system actuates a blade in a cutting apparatus to pass through the produce item and into one of the slots in a roller, or rollers, to separate the calyx from the body of the strawberry.