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Latest robot can pick strawberry fields forever
Japan Times ^ | 09/30/2013

Posted on 09/30/2013 12:53:07 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

A robot that picks ripe strawberries while farmers sleep has been unveiled with claims it could cut workloads by two-thirds.

The device, unveiled Wednesday, can pick a piece of fruit every eight seconds by using three cameras to determine which strawberries are ready to pick. A mechanized arm then darts out to snip each one free and place it into its basket.

The 2-meter robot moves on rails between rows of strawberries, which in Japan are usually grown in elevated greenhouse planters.

It “calculates the degree of ripeness from the color of the strawberry, which it observes with two digital cameras,” said Mitsutaka Kurita, an official at Shibuya Seiki, the developer of the machine.

“It also uses the images from the two cameras to calculate the distance from the target, then approaches the strawberry it is aiming at,” he said.

A third camera takes a detailed photo of the fruit, which it uses for the final calculation before moving in to snip it.

(Excerpt) Read more at japantimes.co.jp ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Computers/Internet; Science
KEYWORDS: robot; strawberries
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1 posted on 09/30/2013 12:53:07 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Going to put the illegals out of business...


2 posted on 09/30/2013 12:54:21 PM PDT by Hotlanta Mike ("Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish - too much handling will spoil it." Lao Tzu)
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To: SeekAndFind
Making illegal aliens undocumented workers irrelevant?
3 posted on 09/30/2013 12:54:46 PM PDT by Uncle Miltie (Ted Cruz for President!)
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To: SeekAndFind

if ready for prime time, this could be the final death of the illegal alien AMNESTY.


4 posted on 09/30/2013 12:54:52 PM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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To: Uncle Miltie

Until our FR protectionists roll in, and claim that we need the jobs.


5 posted on 09/30/2013 12:56:14 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: Hotlanta Mike

Going to put the illegals out of business...

They will stay and demand welfare...

The DNC is always expanding their base...


6 posted on 09/30/2013 12:56:27 PM PDT by GraceG
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To: SeekAndFind

And no fecal matter on the strawberries to give people e-coli infections. That’s a big improvement over laborers who don’t wash their hands.


7 posted on 09/30/2013 12:56:34 PM PDT by txrefugee
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To: SeekAndFind

8 posted on 09/30/2013 12:56:58 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

I want one.... Last year I picked 30+ gallons of strawberries..... This year wet, man cause weather, rotted the majority of my berries. You are suppose to pick off the bad berries so the rest can produce.... I spent two days of performing this task and gave up.


9 posted on 09/30/2013 12:57:48 PM PDT by Just mythoughts (Jesus said Luke 17:32 Remember Lot's wife.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Tomatoes are next!!!!!


10 posted on 09/30/2013 12:58:48 PM PDT by Zuben Elgenubi
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To: Zuben Elgenubi

RE: Tomatoes are next!!!!!

Honestly, I can’t see how this technology can’t apply to any other fruit...


11 posted on 09/30/2013 12:59:33 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: txrefugee

And no fecal matter on the strawberries to give people e-coli infections. That’s a big improvement over laborers who don’t wash their hands.

But won’t we need robots what can wash the robots to keep them clean....

I think they should build “multi-purpose humanoid robots” so that you can use them to do everything a day labourer could do.... actually they are working on those too....


12 posted on 09/30/2013 12:59:54 PM PDT by GraceG
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To: txrefugee

Yeah, because we know people like to keep **** on their hands.


13 posted on 09/30/2013 1:00:12 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: SeekAndFind

...strawberry fields forever...

Catchy.

Someone should write a song.


14 posted on 09/30/2013 1:01:03 PM PDT by Gamecock (Many Atheists take the stand: "There is no God AND I hate Him.")
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To: 1rudeboy

Until our FR protectionists roll in, and claim that we need the jobs.

You forgot the Freeper Preppers like me who are concerned that an EMP from Iran or Solar Flare could starve us all to death....


15 posted on 09/30/2013 1:02:21 PM PDT by GraceG
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To: SeekAndFind

Picking strawberries is back-breaking work.


16 posted on 09/30/2013 1:02:23 PM PDT by vbmoneyspender
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To: Just mythoughts

RE: I want one.... Last year I picked 30+ gallons of strawberries.....

That will be Five million yen ( or $50,000 ) please.


17 posted on 09/30/2013 1:02:43 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Where have you been? Tomatoes have been picked my machines green for years.........


18 posted on 09/30/2013 1:03:17 PM PDT by Average Al
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To: SeekAndFind

I thought that the BEATLES had patented and copyrighted this!


19 posted on 09/30/2013 1:03:20 PM PDT by Young Werther (Julius Caesar said "Quae cum ita sunt. Since these things are so.".)
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To: 1rudeboy

I count any number of guys that bypass the sinks on the way out of the restroom. I imagine the number is even higher for a guy using a bucket at the end of a crop row.


20 posted on 09/30/2013 1:03:32 PM PDT by 21twelve ("We've got the guns, and we got the numbers" adapted and revised from Jim M.)
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