BASIC MECHANISM OF ROBOT ADAPTED TO PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF TOMATO PLANT

In this paper, it is reported that manipulator and hand-required for harvesting tomato were studied. At first, basic physical properties of tomato plant were investigated such as position of fruit, length of stems and leaves, width between ridges and son on . Secondly , basic mechanism of articulate manipulators with 5 to 7 degree of freedom were investigated by using evaluation indexes such as operational space, measure of manipulatability , posture diversity and so on. From the results, an articulate manipulator with 7 degrees of freedom was selected and the manipulator was manufactured as a trial according to the mechanism. Thirdly , physical properties about fruit and peduncle of tomato were also researched such as diameter, length , picking force and so on. Based on the properties , tomato harvesting hand with absorptive pad were also made as a trial. Finally, after the hand was attached to the manipulator, harvesting experiment was done in greenhouse . It was observed th t the robot could harvest satisfactorily , not only since the robot adapted to physical properties of tomato plant was manufactured but also since phyllotaxis of tomatoes was so methodical that all fruit clusters emerged in the same direction.