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Automated Crop Tray Handling and Transfer System in Indoor Urban Farm

Automated FOUP Handling and Delivery

SESTO’s Automated Crop Tray Handling System integrates a robotic arm with the Magnus AMR platform to automate the picking, placement, and transfer of crop trays across vertical farming racks. The solution streamlines crop rotation between seeding, growing, and harvesting zones, ensuring precise handling and optimal use of space in controlled environments.

Challenges
  • Manual tray transfers: Frequent lifting and repositioning of heavy crop trays increased fatigue and injury risk.
  • Precision requirements: Each tray needed accurate placement on multi-tier racks to avoid crop damage.
  • Space constraints: Compact vertical farms required robots to maneuver safely in narrow aisles.
  • Cycle timing: Manual operations caused delays in seeding and harvesting schedules.
Solutions
  • Automated tray handling: Robotic arm mounted on SESTO AMR automates loading and unloading of trays at growth racks.
  • Precision alignment: Vision and sensor-guided movements ensure accurate placement on each tier.
  • Fleet coordination: MagFleet system manages mission scheduling, route optimization, and workflow sequencing.
  • Seamless integration: Interfaces with vertical farm management systems for synchronized crop rotation.
  • Safe navigation: LiDAR and obstacle-detection technology ensure smooth, contact-free operations in tight spaces.
Outcome
  • Reduced manual labor: Operators are relieved from repetitive tray movement and handling tasks.
  • Increased productivity: Automation shortens crop rotation cycles and boosts harvest throughput.
  • Improved precision: Robotic handling prevents misalignment and crop damage.
  • Enhanced safety: Eliminates risks of strain and injury from manual lifting.
  • Scalable flexibility: Adaptable for farms of various sizes and modular rack configurations.