This study was conducted to develop an automatic nutrient-solution control system for small-scale growers. The nutrient-solution control system consisted of a low-cost and precise metering device and a personal computer. The system controlled electric conductivity(EC) and pH of nutrient-solution based on the time-based feedback control method with the information about temperature, EC, and pH of the nutrient-soIution. The performance of the nutrient-solution control system was evaluated through the control of EC and pH while compared with those of commercial nutrient-solution control system. Also an experimental cultivation of tomato was conducted to verify and to improve the developed system. Results of this study were as follows. 1. An automatic nutrient-solution control system based on a low-cost and precise metering device was developed. 2. The developed system controlled EC and pH within $\pm$0.05 mS/cm and $\pm$0.2 pH full scale error respectively at $24^{/circ}C$. 3. When using the commercial system, the controlled values of EC and pH of the 500l of water were 1.29 mS/cm and 6.1 pH for the setting points of 1.4 mS/cm and 6.0 pH respectively at $22^{/circ}C$. 4. The developed nutrient-solution control system showed $\pm$0.05 mS/cm of deviation from the setting EC value over the experimental cultivation period. 5. The deviation from the average values of Ca and Mg mass content in the several nutrient-solution were 0.5% and 1.8% respectively.

Structural characteristic of a rice polisher of small size was analyzed to improve its performance and to utilize such data in developing a rice polisher of large size. Spraying characteristic of nozzles which were used for rice polishing was evaluated by a machine vision system. Internal pressure of the polishing chamber was also measured according to outlet resistance, water spraying, and roller shaft speed. In addition, the performance of the polisher was analyzed based on whiteness and broken ratio according to operating conditions.

This study was conducted to develop a robotic transplanter for bedding plants. The robotic transplanter consisted of machine vision system, a manipulator, a gripper and plug tray transfer system. The performance of the robotic transplanter was tested and compared by two different transplanting methods, which were to consider the leaf orientation of seedlings and not to. Results of this study were as follows. (1) A cartesian coordinate manipulator for a robotic transplanter with 3 degree of freedom was constructed. The accuracy of position control was $\pm$1 mm. (2) The robotic transplanter with the machine vision system, the manipulator, the gripper and the transfer system was developed and tested with a shovel-type finger. Without considering the orientation of leaves, the success rates of transplanting healthy cucumber seedlings in 72-cell and 128-cell plug-trays were 95.5% and 94.5% respectively. Considering the orientation of leaves, the success rates of transplanting healthy cucumber seedling in 72-cell and 128-cell plug-trays were 96.0% and 95.0% respectively.