Distance Operated Manipulator: A Case Study for Rose Plucking

Few applications such as cutting shrubs and trees with prickles lead to damage to the hands while cutting it conventionally. The research has been undertaken for ease of rose plucking. A distance operated manipulator is designed and manufactured to overcome the issue of cutting roses by conventional way. The working of the tool is controlled by a lever operated mechanism. By a Bowden cable, the lever is connected to a brake caliper. The force applied by fingers at the lever is amplified at the point of application due to mechanical advantage. The end-effector consists of a gripper-cum-cutter. When the lever is operated, the stem of the rose is first gripped and then shearing of stem takes place. This unique feature of mechanism results into safe harvesting. Due to its simplest construction, it is a beneficial method. Trials have demonstrated the effective use of manipulator for rose plucking.