Automated system and method for lumber picking

An apparatus for manipulating a first piece of lumber, wherein the first piece of lumber is one of a plurality of lumber pieces on a lumber pile, and wherein the first piece of lumber has a first surface, the apparatus comprising:

• a gantry structure that includes a raise/lower actuator;
• a lumber pickup arm operatively coupled to the raise/lower actuator of the gantry structure, wherein the lumber pickup arm includes a first plurality of selectively air-pressure-activatable suction cups arranged in a staggered configuration;
• a first plurality of air valves operably connected to the first plurality of suction cups;
• an optical location device configured to generate location parameters for where the first piece of lumber is to be picked up;
• a controller operably connected to the first plurality of air valves and configured to control the raise/lower actuator to lower the lumber pickup arm based on the location parameters of where the first piece of lumber is to be picked up so that a first sub-plurality of the first plurality of suction cups seat on the first surface of the first piece of lumber, and to operate the first plurality of air valves so as to reduce air pressure in the first sub-plurality of the first plurality of suction cups to grab the first piece of lumber, wherein the controller later activates at least one of the first plurality of air valves to supply compressed air into at least one of the first sub-plurality of the first plurality of suction cups to increase air pressure in the at least one of the first sub-plurality of the first plurality of suction cups to release the first piece of lumber;
• and
• a lumber-analysis unit operably coupled to the lumber pickup arm, wherein the lumber-analysis unit is configured to perform a defect analysis on the first piece of lumber and generate a lumber-defect result based on the defect analysis, wherein the defect analysis includes a comparison of physical geometric data of the first piece of lumber to acceptable lumber parameters, and wherein the gantry structure, the raise/lower actuator, and the lumber pickup arm are configured to move the first piece of lumber from the lumber pile to one of a plurality of destinations based on the lumber-defect result.