Robotic device to pick and trim mushrooms to solve labor shortages Researchers in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences have developed a robotic mechanism for mushroom picking and trimming and demonstrated its effectiveness for the automated harvesting of button mushrooms. In a new study, the prototype, which is designed to be integrated with a machine vision system, showed that it is capable of both picking and trimming mushrooms growing in a shelf system. The prototype, which is designed to be integrated with a machine vision system, showed that it is capable of both picking mushrooms with a pneumatic system (top photo) and trimming them (bottom photo). Image: Penn State