A device that enables the automated cutting and transfer of plant shoots is undergoing development for use in the propagation of plants in a nursery or laboratory. At present, it is standard practice for a human technician to use a knife and forceps to cut, separate, and grasp a plant shoot. The great advantage offered by the present device is that its design and operation are simpler than would be those of a device based on the manual cutting/separation/grasping procedure. [The present device should not be confused with a prior device developed for partly the same purpose and described in "Compliant Gripper for a Robotic Manipulator" (NPO-21104), NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 27, No. 3 (March 2003), page 59.]

Pushed Down Onto a Bed of Plants, the tube cuts and retains a plug of plant material. There is no need for separate cutting and grasping mechanisms and their controls.
The device (see figure) includes a circular tube sharpened at its open (lower) end and mounted on a robotic manipulator at its closed (upper) end. The robotic manipulator simply pushes the sharpened open end of the tube down onto a bed of plants and rotates a few degrees clockwise then counterclockwise about the vertical axis, causing the tube to cut a cylindrical plug of plant material. Exploiting the natural friction between the tube and plug, the tube retains the plug, without need for a gripping mechanism and control.

The robotic manipulator then retracts the tube, translates it to a new location over a plant-growth tray, and inserts the tube part way into the growth medium at this location in the tray. A short burst of compressed air is admitted to the upper end of the tube to eject the plug of plant material and drive it into the growth medium.

A prototype has been tested and verified to function substantially as intended. It is projected that in the fully developed robotic plant-propagation system, the robot control system would include a machine-vision subsystem that would automatically guide the robotic manipulator in choosing the positions from which to cut plugs of plant material. Planned further development efforts also include more testing and refinement of the design and operation described above.

This work was done by Raymond Cipra, NASA Summer Faculty Fellow from Purdue University, Hari Das and Khaled Ali of Caltech, and Dennis Hong of Purdue University for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For further information, access the Technical Support Package (TSP) free on-line at www.techbriefs.com/tsp under the Mechanics category. NPO-21137.

Topics:
Automation Control systems Cutting Education and training Manufacturing processes Mechanical Components Mechanics People and personalities Robotics
This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
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Device for Automated Cutting and Transfer of Plant Shoots

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NASA Tech Briefs Magazine

This article first appeared in the September, 2003 issue of NASA Tech Briefs Magazine (Vol. 27 No. 9).

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Overview

The document outlines the development of an automated transfer device for plant micropropagation, created by a team at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The device features a circular tube that is sharpened at one end and mounted on a robotic manipulator at the other. This innovative design allows the tube to cut cylindrical plugs of plant material from existing shoots without the need for separate cutting and gripping mechanisms.

The operational process begins with the robotic manipulator pushing the sharpened end of the tube down onto a bed of plants. By rotating the tube slightly, it cuts a plug of plant material, which is retained inside the tube due to natural friction. The tube is then retracted and moved to a new location over a growth tray, where it is inserted partway into the growth medium. A short burst of compressed air is introduced to eject the plug into the new medium, facilitating the propagation of the plant.

The document emphasizes the advantages of this device over traditional methods, which typically involve manual cutting and handling of plant material using knives and forceps. The automated system not only enhances efficiency but also reduces the risk of damage to the plants during the transfer process. The design allows for the potential to increase the number of shoots propagated by spacing the plugs appropriately in the new growth media.

Future developments for the device include the integration of a machine-vision subsystem to automate the selection of optimal cutting locations, further refining the device's operation and effectiveness. Initial prototypes have been tested successfully, demonstrating the device's capability to cut, form, and deposit plant plugs as intended.

The document also notes that the work was conducted under NASA's sponsorship and highlights the collaborative efforts of researchers from Purdue University and Caltech. Overall, this automated transfer device represents a significant advancement in plant micropropagation technology, promising to streamline processes in nurseries and research settings while improving plant health and growth outcomes.