title: Robotic kiwifruit harvesting using machine vision, convolutional neural networks, and robotic arms

authors: Williams, Henry A.M.

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: As labour requirements in horticultural become more challenging, automated solutions are becoming an effective approach to maintain productivity and quality. This paper presents the design and performance evaluation of a novel multi-arm kiwifruit harvesting robot designed to operate autonomously in pergola style orchards. The harvester consists of four robotic arms that have been designed specifically for kiwifruit harvesting, each with a novel end-effector developed to enable safe harvesting of the kiwifruit. The vision system leverages recent advances in deep neural networks and stereo matching for reliably detecting and locating kiwifruit in real-world lighting conditions. Furthermore, a novel dynamic fruit scheduling system is presented that has been developed to coordinate the four arms throughout the harvesting process. The performance of the harvester has been measured through a comprehensive and realistic field-trial in a commercial orchard environment. The results show that the presented harvester is capable of successfully harvesting 51.0% of the total number of kiwifruit within the orchard with an average cycle time of 5.5s/fruit.

text: Robotic kiwifruit harvesting using machine vision, convolutional neural networks, and robotic arms As labour requirements in horticultural become more challenging, automated solutions are becoming an effective approach to maintain productivity and quality. This paper presents the design and performance evaluation of a novel multi-arm kiwifruit harvesting robot designed to operate autonomously in pergola style orchards. The harvester consists of four robotic arms that have been designed specifically for kiwifruit harvesting, each with a novel end-effector developed to enable safe harvesting of the kiwifruit. The vision system leverages recent advances in deep neural networks and stereo matching for reliably detecting and locating kiwifruit in real-world lighting conditions. Furthermore, a novel dynamic fruit scheduling system is presented that has been developed to coordinate the four arms throughout the harvesting process. The performance of the harvester has been measured through a comprehensive and realistic field-trial in a commercial orchard environment. The results show that the presented harvester is capable of successfully harvesting 51.0% of the total number of kiwifruit within the orchard with an average cycle time of 5.5s/fruit.

year: 2019

title: Sleuths and Spies: the rise of the 'Everywoman' in detective and thriller fiction of the 1920s

authors: Bydder, Jillene

subjects: women in fiction

abstract: The 1920s, frequently referred to as the ‘Roaring Twenties’ or the ‘Jazz Age’, are often associated with opulent lifestyles and the emergence of striking fashion and furniture trends. Themes in the history of women in crime and thriller fiction show, however, that this decade was also a difficult period in the West, one of widespread financial hardship and of living in the shadow of social turmoil: anti-Semitism, conspiracy theories and fear of the foreign dominated the mainstream press as well as popular fiction. It was also a period in which women were working to navigate their way through a society changed forever by the experience of war. This paper examines some of the well-known detective and thriller fiction writers of the 1920s – Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, John Buchan and William Le Queux – and shows how their characters chart the sexualisation of women as well as women’s resistance to the prevailing views of the day. Fictional women of this period represent ‘Everywoman’: independent and intelligent and, most importantly, sleuths and spies in their own right.

text: Sleuths and Spies: the rise of the 'Everywoman' in detective and thriller fiction of the 1920s The 1920s, frequently referred to as the ‘Roaring Twenties’ or the ‘Jazz Age’, are often associated with opulent lifestyles and the emergence of striking fashion and furniture trends. Themes in the history of women in crime and thriller fiction show, however, that this decade was also a difficult period in the West, one of widespread financial hardship and of living in the shadow of social turmoil: anti-Semitism, conspiracy theories and fear of the foreign dominated the mainstream press as well as popular fiction. It was also a period in which women were working to navigate their way through a society changed forever by the experience of war. This paper examines some of the well-known detective and thriller fiction writers of the 1920s – Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, John Buchan and William Le Queux – and shows how their characters chart the sexualisation of women as well as women’s resistance to the prevailing views of the day. Fictional women of this period represent ‘Everywoman’: independent and intelligent and, most importantly, sleuths and spies in their own right.

year: 2013

title: Gendered geographies of resistance, resilience and reworking in Aotearoa feminist geography scholarship

authors: Adams-Hutcheson, Gail

abstract: Aotearoa New Zealand feminist geographies involve alliances of connected and vibrant researchers who pay close attention to the politics of knowledge production, power, intersectionality and decolonisation. Safe spaces to speak and write together have been nurtured over time ‘down under’ due to a collective politics of care and mentoring. This special issue demonstrates the strength of collective thinking on resistance, resilience and reworking contemporary geographical practice in Aotearoa. The four empirically based and theoretically informed articles develop new thinking about resistance to colonialism, patriarchy, racism, metricisation and oppression. These critical articles contribute to feminist geographical knowledges both locally and globally.

text: Gendered geographies of resistance, resilience and reworking in Aotearoa feminist geography scholarship Aotearoa New Zealand feminist geographies involve alliances of connected and vibrant researchers who pay close attention to the politics of knowledge production, power, intersectionality and decolonisation. Safe spaces to speak and write together have been nurtured over time ‘down under’ due to a collective politics of care and mentoring. This special issue demonstrates the strength of collective thinking on resistance, resilience and reworking contemporary geographical practice in Aotearoa. The four empirically based and theoretically informed articles develop new thinking about resistance to colonialism, patriarchy, racism, metricisation and oppression. These critical articles contribute to feminist geographical knowledges both locally and globally.

year: 2022-11-22