Robots to revolutionize farming, ease labor woes

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

SALINAS, Calif. (AP) — On a windy morning in California's Salinas Valley, a tractor pulled a wheeled, metal contraption over rows of budding iceberg lettuce plants. Engineers from Silicon Valley tinkered with the software on a laptop to ensure the machine was eliminating the right leafy buds.

The engineers were testing the Lettuce Bot, a machine that can "thin" a field of lettuce in the time it takes about 20 workers to do the job by hand.

The thinner is part of a new generation of machines that target the last frontier of agricultural mechanization — fruits and vegetables destined for the fresh market, not processing, which have thus far resisted mechanization because they're sensitive to bruising.

Researchers are now designing robots for these most delicate crops by integrating advanced sensors, powerful computing, electronics, computer vision, robotic hardware and algorithms, as well as networking and high precision GPS localization technologies. Most ag robots won't be commercially available for at least a few years.

In this region known as America's Salad Bowl, where for a century fruits and vegetables have been planted, thinned and harvested by an army of migrant workers, the machines could prove revolutionary.

Farmers say farm robots could provide relief from recent labor shortages, lessen the unknowns of immigration reform, even reduce costs, increase quality and yield a more consistent product.

http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/news-technology/20130715/US-Food-and-Farm-Robots-on-the-Farm/

Well, there goes California's immigration problem. Thanks Obama!

[GandD 5,966]

What happens when we start getting floods of illegal robots from Mexico?

[lostinblue 1,989]

more welfare for california.....

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

They have automated grape harvesters, but they still require Mexicans inside to make them work.

[RGinWA 816]

This is awesome.

Now the illegals will finally get IT jobs fixing the robots; yet still at slave wages.

[Jacque67 7,328]

Will the robots be allowed to carry concealed guns?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Will the robots be allowed to carry concealed guns?

Here in Florida, they'll also be allowed to stand their ground. They'll be allowed to follow you, too.

[X Factor 1,112]

Will the robots be allowed to carry concealed guns?

If they do, they will be arrested by robocops

[GandD 5,966]

Will the robots be allowed to carry concealed guns?

They'll actually be required to carry guns.

[Jacque67 7,328]

They should all be allowed to carry concealed weapons and then there will be a low level of crime apparently. Of course it might not prove wise to follow the laws of a state rumored to be mainly habit end by fat lesbians wearing plaid?