Wild Rice Harvester Technology Evaluation & Improvements

该项目是萨斯喀彻温省理工学院(SP)与行业合作伙伴西北社区木材产品有限公司之间应用研究项目的开始，后者通过NWC野生水稻管理和销售野生水稻。NWC野生稻是一家完全由土著拥有和经营的企业，与Métis和Cree野生稻种植者/收割者在萨斯喀彻温省西北部地区合作。NWC很荣幸能与萨斯喀彻温省理工学院合作，共同开发收割机飞艇的改进。萨斯喀彻温省理工学院的研究团队和学生将致力于开发野生作物收获设备的设计元素，这些设计元素最有可能对收获结果产生积极影响，造福于收割机、他们的家人以及他们生活和工作的土地和水域。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。萨斯喀彻温理工学院将继续与种植者/收割机进行讨论，并将利用领先的3D设计和先进的制造技术来显著提高野生稻种植者的效率和盈利能力。这一阶段将整合纯电子(虚拟)构建，以限制迭代和成本。软件可以在SP实验室和车间创建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实际查看和测试POC。这一研究伙伴关系的基础是共同的理念，即北方最大的农作物的收获技术必须是高效的，最大限度地提高作物对种植者/收割者的回报，并保护环境健康。到目前为止，还没有进行重大的技术调整和进步，以支持这个位于萨斯喀彻温省的农业行业的机械。与萨斯喀彻温省自20世纪70年代以来先进的林地耕作设备和技术相比，这种缺乏尤其明显。这个项目可能是第一次在工程研究和开发方面的投资，甚至是任何现代效率思维，被应用于野生水稻农业的机械化。

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.