Sophisticated hydraulic systems are now available on all modern tractors capable of performing additional functions including the operation and control of a multiplicity of implements and machines mounted to the rear, front or side of the tractor including loaders, mowers, agrochemical applicators, harvesters and feeders. While many of these are mechanically driven through the power-take-off (PTO) shaft at the rear of the tractor, hydraulic-drive systems provide additional flexibility due to the flexible power hoses that interconnect the driving and driven units.
Another interesting development pioneered in France is the robotic approach to harvesting tree fruit like apples and oranges where the mature fruit is selected by machine vision using light reflectance, picked mechanically by the robot and conveyed pneumatically (under vacuum) to a storage pallet. Whether these exciting but expensive technologies can be successfully commercialized remains to be seen. Gantry mechanization (including harvesting) of fruits and vegetables in greenhouses has also been investigated but cost remains a difficult factor to overcome.

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Sophisticated hydraulic systems are now available on all modern tractors capable of performing additional functions including the operation and control of a multiplicity of implements and machines mounted to the rear, front or side of the tractor including loaders, mowers, agrochemical applicators, harvesters and feeders. While many of these are mechanically driven through the power-take-off (PTO) shaft at the rear of the tractor, hydraulic-drive systems provide additional flexibility due to the flexible power hoses that interconnect the driving and driven units.
Another interesting development pioneered in France is the robotic approach to harvesting tree fruit like apples and oranges where the mature fruit is selected by machine vision using light reflectance, picked mechanically by the robot and conveyed pneumatically (under vacuum) to a storage pallet. Whether these exciting but expensive technologies can be successfully commercialized remains to be seen. Gantry mechanization (including harvesting) of fruits and vegetables in greenhouses has also been investigated but cost remains a difficult factor to overcome.

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