Development of Automatic Seedling Feeding Device for Cucurbits Grafting Robot (Part 2)

—Practicality Evaluation of Automatic Stock Feeder—

Abstract

We sought to develop an automatic seedling feeder compatible with a semi-automatic grafting robot for cucurbits. We focused on seedlings with a non-uniform direction of cotyledon expansion. After investigating cotyledon development guidance within a fixed range using a prior cotyledon-orienting device, we investigated guidance based on precision testing conducted using an experimental automatic stock feeder. The prior cotyledon-orienting device guided cotyledon development to the grafting robot in a suitable direction. Of the seedlings deviating by more than ±50°, 89% were corrected to within ±50°. This method has the same effectiveness as typical alignment seeding. The precision and joining and agglutination rates of automatically grafted stalks were 100%. Furthermore, 98% of grafted seedlings reached maturity. These results suggest potential real-world applications.