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Grapevine Pruning Robot
In Leviticus, chapter 25, we read:
That is, we might read that in an updated version, because Vision Robotics is working on a grapevine pruning robot.
Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thy robot shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather the fruit thereof;
But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the Lord: thy robot shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.
(Grapevine pruning robot from Vision Robotics)
The final version of the robot would have a tractor drive unit to move it along the rows; the robotic arm shown above would prune the vines with a 3D vision system and multiple pruning shears. Each vine must be trimmed at exactly the right length and angle at the end of the season.
The robot is expected to cost less than half of what humans charge for the service.
Although the grapevine pruning robot cannot plow a field, Philip K. Dick thought about autonomic plows:
Click thy mouse upon these links:
- Intelligent Scarecrow Robot Has A Brain
Technical wizards at the University of South Florida at Tampa have designed a scarecrow robot to help keep predatory birds away from fish ponds. - Robotic Suit For Farmers In Japan
A person wearing the suit picks radishes using a wearable assistance machine equipped with eight motors and 16 sensors. - Robotic Tomato Harvester Ready For Space
NASA understands that long-term space missions depend on some form of farming as a matter of survivial. - Radish Races Via Internet
The intent of the project is to do something like the Tamagotchi virtual pets, but with real plants.
From Vision Robotics via Robots.net.
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