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

商业野生蓝莓收割机的自动化可提高可收浆果产量并最大限度地减少操作员压力

• 批准号: 490632-2015
• 负责人: Esau, Travis
• 金额: $ 9.65万
• 依托单位: Dalhousie University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=693447
• 关键词: Automation; commercial; wild; blueberry; harvester

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.

由于作物参数（株高、株密度、果区）、田间条件（岩石、坡度、裸斑、杂草）和果实产量的巨大变化，野生蓝莓产业面临着采收损失增加（15%至25%）的问题。目前，收割机操作员必须根据作物/田地条件和果实产量的变化，根据自己的判断，频繁地手动调整机器设置（割台高度、行驶速度、割台转速），以减少果实损失。与其他封闭式冠层作物相比，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，从而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，使蓝莓收割机实现自动化，以提高可收割产量并减轻操作员的压力。野生蓝莓种植者设定的目标是在未来五年内将可收获产量提高 33%。为了实现这一里程碑，设想的基于技术的产品和流程包括： (i) 开发创新技术，在收获过程中实时感知植物高度、地面/岩石和果实产量； (ii) 开发计算机化自动控制系统，以促进在收获过程中有关割头高度、行驶速度和割头转速的动态决策； (iii) 将自动化收割机与传统收割机进行比较，以提高浆果采摘效率； (iv) 用创新型自动化收割机替换非自动收割机。该提案是达尔豪斯大学与新斯科舍省科林伍德的 Doug Bragg Enterprises 合作开展的多学科研究工作的一部分。业界和科学家之间的合作旨在开发创新和可行的技术，以提高可收获产量，协助产量随着时间的推移稳定，并提高农场盈利能力，并最终导致加拿大野生蓝莓产业更加可持续。在不增加额外费用的情况下，提高收获效率（例如仅 5%）每年将为 NS 经济贡献 550 万美元，为大西洋省份和魁北克省贡献 3100 万美元。