Universal Logic has entered a Memorandum of Understanding with Agricultural Robotics to provide one hundred Neocortex® artificial intelligence systems for automation in agriculture.

Universal Logic Inc. (Universal) has entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Agricultural Robotics LLC (ARL) to provide one hundred Neocortex® artificial intelligence systems for automation in agriculture. ARL is a consortium of strawberry plant suppliers representing 80% of the strawberry nursery production in North America, producing five hundred million plants a year. The systems will provide 3D plant recognition and grasping, enabling robots to properly pick and pack sorted plants. This MOU represents part of ARLs multi-year effort to automate strawberry plant sorting, trimming and packing.

MOU HIGHLIGHTS
Universal signs MOU with ARL after a successful acceptance test.
The MOU is for one hundred Neocortex AI-based plant picking systems.
MOU covers all ARL strawberry plants, which supplies 80% of the strawberry plants sold in North America.
See the video for a description of Neocortex artificial intelligence.
FIVE HUNDRED MILLION PLANTS PER YEAR
The partnership has successfully developed a plant sorter machine, combining Neocortex plant recognition with robotics. The MOU demonstrates ARLs intention for Neocortex artificial intelligence software to be an integral part of state-of-the-art automation solutions for plant handling in agriculture.
Hob Wubbena, Vice President for Universal Logic, stated: "Recognizing that no two plants are the same, the solution demonstrates the capability of Neocortex to handle extreme plant variability as well as robot grasping and path planning at high speeds. We are delighted to partner with ARL."
The Neocortex system automatically provides final quality assurance by grading the plants. In addition to enabling robotic sorting, it also determines the 3D position in real-time of each plant. This enables careful, high-speed robotic picking and packing for shipments. Once fully implemented, the systems will be handling five hundred million plants a year, which is 80% of the North American production. These ARL-produced plants produce 1.1 million tons of strawberry fruit annually.
Agricultural Robotics member, Elizabeth Elwood Ponce, who is Vice President of Lassen Canyon Nursery, stated: "By using industry-leading automation technology, Agriculture Robotics has developed a robotic solution using Neocortex that ensures cost-effective delivery of the highest quality strawberry plants in the market."
ABOUT UNIVERSAL LOGIC
Universal provides supply chains with complete automated material handling systems for high-mix/high-volume applications. Systems integrate artificial intelligence with vision, grasping, and motion control, giving machines human-like flexibility at high speed. Universal licenses Neocortex software by itself or includes it in pre-designed robotic work cells, called the Neocortex G2R (Goods to Robot) Cells. The Cells drop into existing human work cells and are operational in a day. They are used for order fulfillment, bin/bag picking, part induction, and kitting with a less than 12-month payback. For more information contact Universal Logic at 615-366-7281.