Discussed are a backlight unit and an autostereoscopic 3D (three-dimensional) display device including the same, in which a 3D image can be displayed without using a 3D light controller that includes a liquid crystal layer. The backlight unit may include a 3D light guide plate having first light output patterns, first light sources irradiating light to at least one side of the 3D light guide plate, a 2D (two-dimensional) light guide plate arranged below the 3D light guide plate, and second light sources irradiating light to at least one side of the 2D light guide plate. The first light output patterns are a plurality of line prism patterns spaced apart from each other.

Techniques are described for automatic interval metadata determination for intermittent time series data. In one example, a method for determining intermittent time series interval metadata includes detecting one or more time variables in a time series data set. The method further includes determining whether the one or more time variables are intermittently regular. The method further includes determining one or more respective time intervals for the one or more time variables. The method further includes determining the parameters of intermittency for the one or more time variables. The method further includes generating an output comprising information about the one or more time variables based on the one or more respective time intervals and the parameters of intermittency for the time variable.

An apparatus, computer-readable medium, and computer-implemented method for visualizing relationships between pairs of columns, comprising identifying a relationship classification corresponding to two columns in a plurality of columns based on a data type of each column in the two columns, applying one or more statistical measures to data in the two columns to generate association data quantifying a plurality of relationships between data values in a first column of the two columns and data values in a second column of the two columns, wherein the one or more statistical measures are determined based at least in part on the relationship classification, and transforming the association data into a visualization, wherein the visualization comprises one or more indicators corresponding to one or more relationships in the plurality of relationships and wherein a layout of the visualization is determined based on the relationship classification.

A search system includes a device controller that provisions a device to execute a copy of a selected mobile application. A crawler extracts content and metadata from states of the selected mobile application. A search input state classifier identifies search input states within the states based on a first set of heuristics, including recognition of user-visible search indicia and recognition of metadata that correlates with search functionality. A parameter identifier identifies, for each of the search input states, necessary input parameters. A search function data store stores a record for each identified search function. Each record includes a path to reach a corresponding search input state, an indication of required input parameters, and a mapping of the input parameters to user interface widgets. A query processing system uses the stored search functions to scrape content from the selected mobile application in response to a query.

A search system includes a device controller that provisions a device to execute a copy of a selected mobile application. A crawler extracts content and metadata from states of the selected mobile application. A search input state classifier identifies search input states within the states based on a first set of heuristics, including recognition of user-visible search indicia and recognition of metadata that correlates with search functionality. A parameter identifier identifies, for each of the search input states, necessary input parameters. A search function data store stores a record for each identified search function. Each record includes a path to reach a corresponding search input state, an indication of required input parameters, and a mapping of the input parameters to user interface widgets. A query processing system uses the stored search functions to scrape content from the selected mobile application in response to a query.

A distribution server comprising a processor and a database may receive data configured to modify at least one interface of at least one client device and distribution data. The distribution server may store the data in the database. The distribution server may determine each at least one client device to which the data is to be delivered based on the distribution data. The distribution server may synchronize the data in the database with each at least one client device to which the data is to be delivered.

Networking systems and methods for establishing and maintaining virtual computing clouds are disclosed. A networking system can comprise a server and various instances of a software agent, each agent being installed on a computing device participating in a virtual computing cloud. The server can maintain account setting for a user, wherein the settings can indicate which files on indicated computing devices are included in the virtual computing cloud. The networking system can selectively synchronize data between the computing devices automatically and in a secure manner, and can transmit data in real time to simulate local storage when synchronization of certain files is inappropriate in light of file incompatibility. As a result, the networking system can provide the user with a seamless, automatic system and method for accessing a total computing environment.

A device for extraction of pollutants by multichannel tubular membrane containing at least one fluid channel allowing the fluid to go through a feed inlet to an outlet end characterized in that membrane comprises at least an extraction channel filled with molten salt in order to adsorb said pollutants having to be extracted from the said fluid. Advantageously, the membrane is a ceramic membrane. An application is for the treatment of traces of pollutants in a liquid or gaseous fluid. For example, the removal of small pollutants as volatile organic compounds from an aqueous stream in industrial wastewater treatment or other water treatment applications, or the separation of aromatic compounds form an hydrocarbon feed in petrochemical applications. Another application is in the removal of water traces in products of high added value as pharmaceutical, cosmetic or biocarburant for example.

Systems and methods are provided for combined cycle power generation while reducing or mitigating emissions during power generation. Recycled exhaust gas from a power generation combustion reaction can be separated using a staged complementary swing adsorption process so as to generate a high purity CO2 stream while reducing/minimizing the energy required for the separation and without having to reduce the temperature of the exhaust gas. This can allow for improved energy recovery while also generating high purity streams of carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

A flush driving device for a toilet includes a mounting bracket, a control panel that includes a sensing window and manual buttons, and a manual operating mechanism that includes bars cooperating with the manual buttons and rotating mechanisms connected with the bars. Rotating shafts of the rotating mechanisms are mounted in the mounting bracket. An automatic operating mechanism includes a driving motor, a rod controlled by the driving motor, and lifting mechanisms cooperating with the rod. The flush driving device also includes pull arms connected to both the rotating mechanisms and the lifting mechanisms for controlling the flush of the toilet.

The present invention is an air evacuation apparatus that prevents the accumulation of air inside a swimming pool or spa filter by allowing any air to be removed from inside the filter every time the swimming pool pump is turned on. By allowing air to be removed from the filter, the present invention prevents the build-up of dangerous levels of potential energy caused by compressed air inside the filter that can lead to the violent separation of the filter. More important, the air evacuation apparatus of the present invention allows air to be safely and automatically removed from inside of the filter without interfering with the functionality of the filter.

Provided is an automatic head care system and an automatic hair washing system for caring a person's head in a safe and effective manner without applying a straining force on the person's neck. In order to achieve the object, the following steps are performed in turn: a head receiving step in which a pair of arms 114L, 114R are placed at positions for receiving a person's head 10 on a suppotring body 112; a water washing step in which water ejected from a plurality of nozzles 110 is poured to the head 10 while the pair of arms 114L, 114R are swung; a shampoo step in which washing liquid ejected from the plurality of nozzles 110 is poured to the head 10 while the pair of arms 114L, 114R are swung; and a head care step in which the head 10 is cared by performing the push-rotating of the pair of arms 114L, 114R in the direction of approaching the head 10 so as to bring the plurality of contacts 109 into contact with the head 10 and by swinging the pair of arms 114L, 114R while moving the plurality of contacts 109.

A windrower with a harvesting header with a crop cutting assembly for severing crop from the ground windrower has a header pitch sensor for measuring a fore/aft pitch angle and a hydraulic system. The hydraulic system moves the header between an operating height and a raised position, and also controls a fore/aft pitch angle. An electronics control module provides an output to activate solenoid valves in the hydraulic system to move the header between the operating height and the raised position and to select a desired pitch angle. When the header moves from the operating height to the raised position, the electronics control module operates the header hydraulic system to move the header to the zero-tilt condition, and upon lowering the header back the operating height, the electronics control module automatically returns the header to the selected pitch angle it was in at the start of the cycle.

In an apparatus for controlling an unmanned autonomous operating vehicle having an electric motor supplied with power from a battery for operating an operating machine, and magnetic sensors for detecting intensity of a magnetic field of an area wire and controlled to run about in an operating area defined by the area wire through wheels driven by the prime movers to perform an operation using the operating machine and to return to a charging device installed on the area wire so as to charge the battery, there is provided with a turn-back portion formed by bending the area wire at an appropriate position and again bending the area wire to return in a same direction with a predetermined space so as to divide the operating area into a plurality of parts and vehicle running is controlled to be prohibited from going across the turn-back portion.

An agricultural harvester (100) comprises a self-propelled vehicle (102); a feederhouse (104); a driveshaft (114) supported on the feederhouse (104), the driveshaft (114) having a first coupler (116) fixed to one end of the driveshaft (114), the first coupler (116) comprising a coupler body (420), a piston (416) disposed in the coupler body (420), and a first key (302) mechanically coupled to the piston (416) to be extended or retracted by the piston (416) to engage a mating coupler on a second driveshaft (120) of an agricultural harvesting head (106) that is supported on the feederhouse (104).

A mower carrying a rotary cutting deck has a height of cut system for adjusting the vertical position of the deck relative to the mower frame for changing or adjusting the height of cut. The height of cut system comprises a pair of parallel cross shafts that carry a plurality of pivotal suspension linkages that connect to the deck, the cross shafts and linkages pivoting jointly with one another and with a pivotal control lever. One of the cross shafts carries a torsion spring to counterbalance the weight of the deck. The control lever is maintained in a plurality of adjusted pivotal positions by a height selection bracket fixed to the frame with the height selection bracket being capable of having its position changed or adjusted relative to the frame by a single adjustment bolt. Each suspension linkage has its effective length adjusted by turning a threaded adjuster carried at the upper end of a connecting rod that is part of each linkage to allow the deck to be leveled relative to a reference plane. The adjustment of the height selection bracket is accomplished without affecting the length adjustments previously made to any of the suspension linkages.

A system is provided that automatically stops a tractor as a function of a status of a round baler. This may include a controller such as a baler controller directly or indirectly detecting initial movement of an actuator that moves a wrapper assembly. Based on this detection, conditions for starting a wrap procedure may be determined either by actuator position or by a time period required for moving the wrapper assembly from a home position to a wrap start position. A time period required to bring the tractor to stop may be determined and compared with the time period required for the wrapper assembly to move from the home position to the wrap start position. The baler controller may send a tractor halt command signal for stopping the tractor to coordinate and synchronize bringing the tractor to a complete stop at the same time that the wrapping material is inserted and applied onto the bale at the beginning of a wrapping procedure.

The weed trimmer head is comprised of a sole plate having a diameter; a circumference; a plurality of pivot pins extending upwardly therefrom near the circumference. The sole plate also has a driving shaft extending upwardly therefrom from a center thereof. The driving shaft has a threaded segment thereon. A plurality of cutting blades are pivotally mounted to the plurality of pivot pins. A wingnut plate is also provided. This wingnut plate has a disc-like portion and wing blades extending on an upper side thereof. The wingnut plate has a threaded hole in its disc-like portion. The threaded hole is mounted to the threaded segment of the driving shaft and the wingnut plate is movable along the threaded segment, for selectively contacting or exposing the ends of the pivot pins.

A deck lifting and height of cut assembly for a lawn mower, in which the deck lifting assembly includes at least one movable component and the height of cut assembly includes a height adjustment mechanism having a plurality of stop surfaces. A prop extends between the movable component of the deck lifting assembly and a first stop surface of the height adjustment mechanism to prevent the cutting deck assembly from lowering below a first height. The height adjustment mechanism is adjustable to place a second stop surface in engagement with the prop so that the cutting deck assembly is prevented from lowering below a second height different from the first height. The prop may also be used to maintain the cutting deck assembly in the full-up position during travel of the lawn mower between work areas.

A cutter guard for a rotating blade of a lawn mower, particularly for a robotic, self-guided or autonomous lawn mower forms a cutting bowl in which the blade is mounted for rotation about a generally vertical axis. The guard comprises a generally planar guard section surrounded by an arcuate section, transverse edges of which define an opening in the cutter guard, which in operation is pointed to the front of the lawn mower, to allow uncut grass to be accessed by the cutting blades. The arcuate section comprises a plurality of apertures.

A corn harvesting header comprises a knife bar extending along a front lower edge of a cutting header, with triangular knife sections attached along the bar and a plurality of guards with guard fingers extending forward. Pointed divider pans extend forward from the header such that a slot is formed between adjacent pans. A mounting bracket extends down from a rear of each pan and is attached to forward end portions of a pair of adjacent guard fingers, leaving rear portions of these guard fingers exposed. The divider pans are attached to alternating pairs of guard fingers such that a pair of bare guard fingers extends forward under and laterally adjacent to edges of each slot. The bottom surface of each seed pan is above the guard fingers an elevated distance that is greater than a spacing distance between the guard fingers. The header cuts the corn rows at angle.

A reel lawn mower which has a connection structure for connecting a reel cutting unit to a main body. The reel cutting unit has a spiral cutting reel which is rotated by a prime mover to cut grass together with a bedknife. In the connection structure, in order to connect the reel cutting unit to the main body so that the reel cutting unit rolls around a virtual horizontal line perpendicular to the shaft center of the cutting reel in the center of the axial direction of the cutting reel, the reel cutting unit includes a connecting arm with an arc portion shaped so as to follow a virtual arc centered on the virtual horizontal line. The connecting arm is slidably supported so as to prevent the arc portion from coming off the virtual arc.

A nut tree pickup and debris separator comprising three separate but serially interconnected stages, each including optimized structural and functional features for nut harvesting. The first stage includes a rotary pickup brush and an endless conveyor. The conveyor is constructed from a plurality of parallel bars with flights therebetween, the rods being arranged in spaced relation to retain nuts and pass debris. The second stage comprises an inclined rotating drum whose sidewall includes a plurality of elongated apertures passing therethrough, sized to retain nuts and pass debris. An inner side of the sidewall has a helical flight, sized, configured, and arranged to convey and tumble nuts and debris through the drum, with debris falling through the apertures. The third stage includes vertically offset, tandem conveyors and a cleaning fan to remove any remaining debris from the nuts as the stream falls from the end of one conveyor onto the other.

A method for forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a strained silicon germanium layer on top of a substrate. At least one patterned hard mask layer is formed on and in contact with at least a first portion of the strained silicon germanium layer. At least a first exposed portion and a second exposed portion of the strained silicon germanium layer are oxidized. The oxidizing process forms a first oxide region and a second oxide region within the first and second exposed portions, respectively, of the strained silicon germanium.

Hall effect devices and field effect transistors are formed incorporating a carbon-based nanostructure layer such as carbon nanotubes and/or graphene with a sacrificial metal layer formed there over to protect the carbon-based nanostructure layer during processing.

An aerial disposal and dispersal of cremated remains device is presented. It is used to spread the remains of loved ones over a desired area. The device comprises a canister and a mortar, the canister being cylindrical in shape having cardboard walls, the canister further containing an igniter and burster charge in an inner cardboard tube, such inner tube being fitted with an upper cap, the mortar being cylindrical in shape with steel walls, the mortar further comprising a lifting charge which sits below an obturator disc, the obturator disc having a hole in the center, the canister fitting inside the mortar such that the canister's igniter sits atop the hole in the obturator disc. At least one device is fitted to a horizontal member to launch remains from any location.

An arrangement is disclosed for a meter cabinet, distribution cabinet or empty housing, including a frame and a door, wherein the frame can carry a door and the door is attached pivotally to the frame on its hinge side. The door may be aligned in relation to its frame quickly and without problems, with an adjustment device for aligning the door in the closed condition, the adjustment device being associated with the frame.

A removable handle assembly for a cooking vessel a gripping body, a front end of which forms a flared jaw. The flared jaw has projections adapted to clamp the wall of a vessel. The projections are substantially linear in shape in directions that intersect in front of the gripping body. A flared mobile jaw is mounted on the gripping body to rotate about a first axis between a release position and a clamping position. The flared jaw has two projections (504) of substantially linear shape in directions that intersect in front of the gripping body. An actuating lever mounted on the gripping body rotates about a second axis between a deployed position and a retracted position. A mechanism actuated by the actuating lever locks the mobile jaw in the clamping position.

A portable electronic device includes a lower housing and an upper housing slidable relative to the lower housing between closed and open positions. The upper housing includes an auxiliary input device and a display. A primary flex connector electrically connects the lower and upper housings. At least one secondary flex connector may electrically connect the primary flex connector to the auxiliary input device or the display. The upper housing may include a cover plate that is removable to allow access to at least a portion of the flex connectors.

A lock assembly includes a coupling mechanism connected to a spindle assembly. The coupling mechanism has an outer sleeve having a longitudinal interior opening that extends along a first axis. An operator handle includes a proximal lock core opening, and a distal shaft portion having an axial opening configured to receive the outer sleeve. The distal shaft portion and the outer sleeve are configured to define a through path oriented across the longitudinal interior opening of the outer sleeve. A portion of the through path at the outer sleeve is configured to threadably receive a setscrew to fasten the operator handle to the outer sleeve. A keyed lock core has a tailpiece that is positioned in the longitudinal interior opening of the outer sleeve to obstruct the through path and block access to the setscrew via the through path to prevent unauthorized removal of the operator handle.

A bicycle fork includes a pair of fork leg assemblies, each of the leg assemblies having an upper leg telescopingly engaged with a lower leg. A damping assembly is provided in at least one of the legs. The damping assembly includes lock-out and blow-off compression circuits. These compression circuits are externally adjustable without tools. Furthermore, these two compression circuits may be adjusted independently of each other.

The present disclosure provides systems for mitigating brake vibration. In various embodiments, a brake force distribution arrangement may comprise: a member in operable communication with an actuator having at least two contact surfaces such that as one of the at least two contact surfaces moves in a direction of actuation of the actuator the other moves in a direction opposite to the direction of actuation of the actuator.

The invention is a hydrogen generator including a housing, a reaction area, a fluid reservoir, a pellet comprising a first reactant within the reaction area, a fluid comprising a second reactant within the fluid reservoir, a fluid flow path between the fluid reservoir and the reaction area, and a hydrogen outlet. The fluid flow path comprises a follower assembly biased toward the pellet, the follower assembly includes an articulated joint and a follower, and the second reactant can react with the first reactant in the reaction area to produce hydrogen gas and byproducts.

Systems and apparatuses are provided in which outlets are coupled to a power distribution unit (PDU) or PDU module in various configurations. The outlets may be coupled to a recessed surface within a PDU housing. The outlets and recessed surface may be formed as part of a single mold. The outlets may be coupled to a printed circuit board that is at least partially disposed within the PDU housing. The outlets may extend away from the recessed surface or printed circuit board towards or beyond a front face of the PDU housing.

A distributed power harvesting system including multiple direct current (DC) power sources with respective DC outputs adapted for interconnection into a interconnected DC power source output. A converter includes input terminals adapted for coupling to the interconnected DC power source output. A circuit loop sets the voltage and current at the input terminals of the converter according to predetermined criteria. A power conversion portion converts the power received at the input terminals to an output power at the output terminals. A power supplier is coupled to the output terminals. The power supplier includes a control part for maintaining the input to the power supplier at a predetermined value. The control part maintains the input voltage and/or input current to the power supplier at a predetermined value.

A power outlet having safety cover, the power outlet comprises a shell body, a base fixed in the shell body, a sliding element disposed between the shell body and the base; the shell body has at least one first outlet hole and at least one second outlet hole; the base has a first post, a third outlet hole and a fourth outlet hole; one side of the sliding element has a first inclined block, the middle of the sliding element has a through hole, another side of the sliding element has a second inclined block and a second post; an elastic element is disposed between the first post and the second post; wherein the through hole can contain the first post, the second post and the elastic element; a distance between the first inclined block and an inner wall of the base is smaller than the length of the elastic element.

An abrasive element comprises a body of crystalline abrasive material. The body has an array of cutting elements formed of crystalline abrasive material which projects from a surface of the body. The shape, size and form of the projections is controlled in the production process. The body may be a natural or synthetic crystal. The body may be a film formed by deposition. The body may be diamond or cubic boron nitride. The body may be monocrystalline or polycrystalline. The projections may be aligned along a crystallographic plane or planes.

In one aspect, cutting tools are described having coatings adhered thereto. A coated cutting tool, in some embodiments, comprises a substrate and a coating adhered to the substrate, the coating comprising at least one composite layer deposited by chemical vapor deposition comprising an aluminum oxynitride phase and a metal oxide phase, the metal oxide phase including at least one oxide of a metallic element selected from Group IVB of the Periodic Table.

The inventive method comprises chemically-mechanically polishing a substrate with an inventive polishing composition comprising a liquid carrier and abrasive particles that have been treated with a compound.

The present disclosure relates to cubic boron nitride (cBN) cutting elements that have high cBN content and that are cuttable by electric discharge machining (EDM). A cutting element according to an embodiment includes a self-sintered polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN) compact, having a first phase of cubic boron nitride (cBN) particles and a ceramic binder phase with titanium compounds. The first phase occupies greater than 80% by volume of the self-sintered PCBN compact. The self-sintered PCBN compact has an electrical conductivity sufficient to be cuttable by electrical discharge machining.

The present disclosure relates to cubic boron nitride (cBN) cutting elements that have high cBN content and that are cuttable by electric discharge machining (EDM). A cutting element according to an embodiment includes a self-sintered polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN) compact, having a first phase of cubic boron nitride (cBN) particles and a ceramic binder phase with titanium compounds. The first phase occupies greater than 80% by volume of the self-sintered PCBN compact. The self-sintered PCBN compact has an electrical conductivity sufficient to be cuttable by electrical discharge machining.

CVD coated cutting tools are provided. A coated cutting tool described herein, in some embodiments, comprises a PcBN substrate and a polished coating adhered to the substrate including one or more layers of Al2O3 deposited by chemical vapor deposition, wherein the coating has a surface roughness (Ra) less than about 600 nm in an area of the cutting tool for contacting a workpiece.

The invention relates to a cutting tool comprising a main part and a multilayer coating applied thereon. A first layer A made of a hard material is applied on the main part, said hard material being selected from titanium aluminum nitride (TiAlN), titanium aluminum silicon nitride (TiAlSiN), chromium nitride (CrN), aluminum chromium nitride (AlCrN), aluminum chromium silicon nitride (AlCrSiN), and zirconium nitride (ZrN), and a second layer B made of silicon nitride (Si3N4) is applied directly over the first layer A.

An automated method for analyzing seeds generally includes collecting image data from individual seeds using a seed sampling system, determining at least one characteristic of each of the individual seeds based on the collected image data, and removing tissue from each of the individual seeds using the seed sampling system. The method also includes, prior to removing the tissue sample from each of the individual seeds, adjusting at least one operational parameter of the seed sampling system based on the at least one characteristic of the seed from which the tissue is to be removed to thereby allow for generally consistent removal of tissue from each of the individual seeds. In some aspects, the method further includes analyzing the tissue removed from the seeds for presence or absence of at least one characteristic, and selecting seeds based on presence or absence of the at least one characteristic.

A seed sampling system is provided having an automated seed loading assembly including a seed bin and being operable to singulate seeds from a plurality of seeds within the seed bin. The system also includes an automated seed sampling assembly operable to remove tissue samples from the singulated seeds, and an automated seed transport assembly operable to transfer the singulated seeds from the seed loading assembly to the seed sampling assembly. The seed transport assembly includes multiple retention members. Each of the retention members is movable relative to the seed loading assembly and to the seed sampling assembly. The seed transport assembly is operable to position one of the multiple retention members adjacent to the seed loading assembly for engaging one of the singulated seeds, while positioning another of the retention members adjacent to the seed sampling assembly for presenting another of the singulated seeds to the seed sampling assembly.

The present invention provides a system and method to accurately and safely allow the application of nutritional elements to the foliage of vegetation. The accuracy and safety are the result of the nutritional elements being pre-mixed and applied via a pressurized canister, which produces a foam-based delivery system. The foam is highly visible, dissipates rapidly, and is inert except for the nutrients which it contains (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and others including all of the micro-nutrients that are essential for plant growth). The nutrient content of the foam, for specific uses of the invention, is necessarily variable depending on the type and condition of the vegetation needing such an application.

A method and apparatus for processing seed or seed samples includes an autonomous sorter which sorts seed by pre-programmed criteria. Optional features can include a counter to autonomously ensure the correct number of seeds to a seed package, a cleaning device, a sheller, and a label applicator. A conveyance path, controlled automatically, can move the seed to appropriate and desired stations during the processing while maintaining the sample segregating from other samples. Validation of the sample can be pre-required and information about the sample can be derived and stored for further use.

The present invention relates to substituted cellulose acetates and methods of use thereof. One embodiment of the present invention provides a coating having a substituted cellulose acetate having a polar substituent that has an oxygen atom covalently bonded to a nonmetal selected from the group of sulfur, phosphorus, and boron; wherein the nonmetal is present in at least about 0.01% by weight of the substituted cellulose acetate.

The invention is directed toward a spill- and leak-proof container for floriculture items including cut flowers, stems, other horticultural items, and the like. More specifically, the invention includes a receptacle having funnel-like primary closure. The funnel-like primary closure includes a wider opening generally adjacent to and contiguous with the mouth of the receptacle. The narrower opening of the funnel-like primary closure is positioned in the interior of the receptacle. A secondary closure atop the wider opening of the primary closure ensures no liquid can spill.

An automated seed sampler system includes an imaging device for obtaining images of seeds, an orienting device for orienting the seeds based on the images, and a sampling station for removing tissue from the oriented seeds. In some aspects, the system also includes a transport subsystem for supporting the oriented seeds and conveying the oriented seeds to the sampling station. A method for removing tissue from seeds includes imaging the seeds, orienting the seeds based on image information obtained from the seeds, and removing tissue from the oriented seeds. In some aspects, the method also includes transporting the oriented seeds in a transport subsystem to a sampling station for removing the tissue from the oriented seeds, and/or collecting the tissue removed from the oriented seeds so that a one-to-one correspondence exists between the tissue and the sampled seeds, and/or analyzing the tissue for characteristics indicative of genetic and/or chemical traits.