Greenhouse Vine-Dropping Robot With Optical Hook Height Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hook-based vine dropping methods in greenhouse cultivation require manual operation, leading to inefficiencies and safety hazards due to high-altitude work.
Innovation Solution
A greenhouse automatic vine dropping robot equipped with a mechanical arm and light curtain sensor to automate the vine dropping process, using an optoelectronic switch for height detection and a gripper for hook manipulation, enabling synchronized operations with two mechanical arms to improve efficiency and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual hook-based vine dropping is used, then operation flexibility is maintained, but labor intensity increases and safety hazards occur due to high-altitude work
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical system with an automated mechanical system consisting of a mobile platform, mechanical arm, gripper, and control system. The robot autonomously performs vine dropping operations by detecting hooks, grasping them with the gripper, and releasing them at appropriate heights, eliminating the need for manual high-altitude work while maintaining operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot is equipped with sensors (optoelectronic switches, light curtain sensors) that enable it to autonomously detect vine hanging steel wires and hooks, calculate operation heights, and execute dropping operations without continuous human intervention. The system self-manages the entire vine dropping process from detection to execution.
2Productivity
If automated vine dropping robot is deployed, then labor cost is reduced and safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robot system is divided into functional modules: mobile platform for movement, mechanical arm for positioning, gripper for grasping, optoelectronic switches for height detection, light curtain sensors for hook detection, and control system for coordination. This modular segmentation makes the complex system manageable and maintainable while achieving high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical arm and gripper combination serves multiple functions: positioning, grasping, lifting, and releasing hooks. The mobile platform integrates movement, support for all components, and power supply. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, managing complexity while maintaining productivity.
3Measurement precision
If optoelectronic switch and light curtain sensor are used for detection, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical measurement systems with optical detection systems. Optoelectronic switches detect the vine hanging steel wire position electronically, and light curtain sensors detect hooks through optical interruption. This substitution achieves high measurement precision while reducing mechanical complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The optoelectronic switches and light curtain sensors act as intermediary detection devices between the physical objects (steel wires, hooks) and the control system. They convert physical positions into electrical signals that the control system can process, achieving accurate measurement without direct mechanical contact or complex measurement mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The robot reduces labor costs and safety risks while enhancing vine dropping efficiency by automating the process, improving accuracy and stability through precise height detection and synchronized mechanical arm operations.
Implementation Method 1
detecting the vine hanging steel wire by an optoelectronic switch installed on a vine dropping robot, to determine a height of a vine dropping operation
Implementation Method 2
positioning the vine dropping hook by a light curtain sensor at the tail end of the mechanical arm
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a greenhouse automatic vine dropping robot and a vine dropping method. The vine dropping robot includes a mobile chassis, a lifting mechanism, a control cabinet, a front mechanical arm, a rear mechanical arm, an electric gripper, a light curtain sensor, and an optoelectronic switch. The control cabinet and the lifting mechanism are installed on the mobile chassis, and the two mechanical arms are fixed to a surface of a top platform of the lifting mechanism. The electric gripper is installed at a tail end of each of the two mechanical arms, the optoelectronic switch is arranged at a top end of a main shaft of the front mechanical arm, and the light curtain sensor is installed on the gripper at the tail end of the mechanical arm. The robot is suitable for greenhouse crops in the form of hooked-based vine dropping.