Automation of commercial wild blueberry harvester to improve harvestable berry yield and minimize operator stress

野生蓝莓产业面临着更多的收获损失(15%至25%)，这是由于作物参数(植株高度、种植密度、果区)、田间条件(岩石、坡地、裸露斑点、杂草)和水果产量的巨大变化造成的。目前，收割机操作员必须根据作物/田间条件和水果产量的变化，根据他/她的判断，频繁地调整机器设置(头高、地面速度、头转速)，以减少水果损失。与其他封闭式树冠作物相比，野生蓝莓种植系统的独特之处强调了开发自动化系统的必要性，以提高收割机和操作员的效率，以提高浆果产量和质量。拟议研究计划的总体目标是开发一种具有成本效益的传感和控制系统，使蓝莓收割机自动化，以增加可收获产量并减少操作员压力。野生蓝莓种植者设定了在未来五年内将可收获产量增加33%的目标。为达致这个里程碑，预期以技术为本的产品和流程包括：(I)开发一项创新技术，以便在收获期间实时感知植株高度、地面/岩石和水果产量；(Ii)开发一种计算机化的自动化控制系统，以便于在收获过程中就头部高度、地面速度和每分钟转速做出决策；(Iii)比较自动收割机和传统收割机，以提高浆果采摘的效率；及(Iv)用创新的自动收割机取代非自动收割机。这项提议是达尔豪西大学与新斯科舍省科林伍德的道格·布拉格企业公司合作的多学科研究工作的一部分。业界和科学家之间的这种合作是为了开发创新和可行的技术，这些技术将提高可收获的产量，帮助随着时间的推移稳定产量，并增加农场的盈利能力，最终导致加拿大野生蓝莓产业更可持续发展。在不增加任何费用的情况下提高收获效率(比方说只有5%)，每年将为NS经济贡献550万美元，为大西洋各省和魁北克贡献3100万美元。

The wild blueberry industry is facing increased harvesting losses (15 to 25%), caused by substantial variation in crop parameters (plant height, plant density, fruit zone), field conditions (rocks, slope, bare spots, weeds) and fruit yield. Currently, the harvester operator has to frequently adjust machine settings (head height, ground speed, header rpm) manually, based on his/her judgment, according to the variation in crop/field conditions, and fruit yield to reduce fruit loss. The unique features of the wild blueberry cropping system as compared to other closed canopy crops emphasize the need for the development of automated systems to increase harvester and operator efficiency in order to improve berry yield and quality. The overall goal of the proposed research initiative is to develop a cost-effective sensing and control system to automate blueberry harvester to increase harvestable yield and decrease operator stress. Wild blueberry growers set a goal to increase harvestable yieldby 33% in the next five years. To achieve this milestone, the technology based products and processes envisioned include; (i) develop an innovative technology to sense plant height, ground/rock and fruit yields in real-time during harvesting; (ii) develop a computerized automated control system to facilitate on -the- go decision making regarding head height, ground speed and head rpm during harvesting; (iii) compare automated harvester with traditional harvester to improve berry picking efficiency; and (iv) replacement of non-automated harvester with innovative automated harvester. This proposal is part of a multi¬disciplinary research effort at Dalhousie University in collaboration with Doug Bragg Enterprises, Collingwood, Nova Scotia. This collaboration between industry and scientists was initiated to develop innovative and viable technologies that will enhance harvestable yield, assist with stabilization of yields over time, and increase farm profitability and ultimately lead to a more sustainable wild blueberry industry in Canada. Increased harvesting efficiency (say 5% only) with no additional expense would contribute $5.5 million to the NS economy and $31 million to Atlantic Provinces and Quebec every year.