Wild Rice Harvester Technology Evaluation & Improvements

这项参与建议是萨斯喀彻温省理工学院（SP）和工业合作伙伴西北社区木材产品有限公司之间的应用研究计划的开始，该公司通过NWC野生稻管理和销售野生稻。NWC野生稻是一个完全由土著人拥有和经营的企业，与萨斯喀彻温省西北地区的梅蒂斯和克里野生稻种植者/收割者合作。NWC很荣幸能与萨斯喀彻温省理工学院合作，共同开发收割机汽船的改进。萨斯喀彻温省理工学院的研究团队和学生将参与开发野生植物收割设备的设计元素，为收割机，他们的家庭，以及他们生活和工作的土地和沃茨。这一阶段的工作包括设计创新和早期POC（概念验证）硬件开发。萨斯喀彻温省理工学院将与种植者/收割者进行持续讨论，并将采用领先的3D设计和先进的制造技术，以大幅提高野生稻农的效率和盈利能力。这一阶段将结合纯电子（虚拟）构建，以限制迭代和成本。软件可以在SP实验室和商店中创建3D打印和软件驱动的加工/焊接件，因此可以使用此软件模型物理地看到POC，进行必要的测试。这种研究伙伴关系的基础是共同的概念，即北方最大农作物的收获技术必须是有效的，最大限度地提高种植者/收获者的作物回报，并保护环境的健康。到目前为止，还没有重大的技术改造和进步，以支持机械在这个萨斯喀彻温省的农业产业。与萨斯喀彻温省自20世纪70年代以来在旱地农业设备和技术方面的进步相比，这种缺乏尤为明显。这个项目可能是第一次投资于工程研究和开发，甚至是任何现代效率思想，已被应用于野生稻农业的机械化。

This Engage proposal is the start of an applied research program between Saskatchewan Polytechnic (SP) andindustry partner North West Communities Wood Products Ltd., which manages and markets wild rice throughNWC Wild Rice. NWC Wild Rice is a fully Indigenous-owned and operated business, working in collaborationwith Métis and Cree wild rice grower/harvesters in the far North West region of Saskatchewan. NWC is proudto partner with Saskatchewan Polytechnic, working together to develop improvements to harvester airboats.Saskatchewan Polytechnic's research team and students will be engaged in developing design elements on wildrice harvesting equipment that offer the highest likelihood to positively impact harvest results for the benefit ofthe harvesters, their families, and the lands and waters where they live and work.This stage of work includes design innovation & early POC (Proof of Concept) hardware development.Saskatchewan Polytech will be in ongoing discussions with the growers/harvesters, and will leverageleading-edge 3D design and advanced manufacturing technology to dramatically increase wild rice farmers'efficiency and profitability. This phase will incorporate electronic-only (virtual) builds to limit iterations andcost. Software can create 3D prints and software driven machining/weldments in SP labs and shops so POCcan be physically seen, tested a necessary using this software model. This research partnership is grounded inthe shared concept that harvesting technology for the North's largest agricultural crop must be efficient,maximize the return on the crop to the grower/harvesters, and protect the health of the environment. To date,there has not been significant technological adaptation and advancement done to support machinery in thisSaskatchewan-based agricultural industry. This lack is especially stark when compared to the advances indry-land farming equipment and technology available in Saskatchewan since the 1970s. This project may bethe first time an investment in engineering research and development, or even any modern efficiency thinking,has been applied to the mechanization of wild rice agriculture.