Removing a head thief from a greenhouse plant

Abstract

Regarding the removal of a sucker from a greenhouse plant, a method is provided that involves the application of a device equipped with a detection system and a gripper. The detection system is used to capture an image of a section of the greenhouse plant and to detect at least one sucker and the course of a main branch on which the sucker is located within the image. Subsequently, the gripper is activated to engage a detected sucker. The gripper is then initially bent downwards relative to the course of the main branch until the sucker partially detaches from the main branch, and subsequently moved upwards along the course of the main branch until the sucker completely detaches from the main branch.