The project aims to realise a robot for the harvesting of hazelnuts, using a machine that works autonomously without any operator on board. It's a highly innovative technology, if compared to current techniques of harvesting, manuals (not competitive in a market economy) or by traditional mechanical means (with serious problems of dust, noise, chemicals, vibration, climate and mechanical hazards). The automated solution will ensure the total elimination of risks and allow important economic returns, by increasing the quality of the product mainly due to the timeliness of the harvesting. The expected product consists of a robot which operates in total autonomy, moving between plants and storing the nuts in special containers; the robot is integrated with systems for traceability and planning the harvesting procedures. World hazelnuts production exceeds 900.000 t, with a turnover of around USD 2 billion, so the commercial potential of innovation affects all the world and represents a technological solution currently non-existent. This robot will enable the Monchiero company to recover large market share over the Americans competitors, with an increase of competitiveness of EU's industry. The potential users are the hazelnuts producers, which need to improve the harvesting process and the operators' working conditions, in addition to solving the problem of finding skilled labor. Coryl Robot will meet all of these needs, in addition to provide the total traceability of the final product and to try to use renewable energy sources. In Phase 1 a detailed feasibility study will be carried out related to technical and economic challenges associated with the implementation of innovation (market analysis, cost-benefit analysis for machinery manufacturers and for hazelnuts producers). In Phase 2 the project intends to accomplish and test the Coryl Robot prototype, in order to evaluate different technological solutions, involving a research institution and some end users.
Robot for automatic and autonomous harvest of hazelnuts (Coryl Robot Project Phase 1) - New proposal
Danilo Rabino
2014
Abstract
The project aims to realise a robot for the harvesting of hazelnuts, using a machine that works autonomously without any operator on board. It's a highly innovative technology, if compared to current techniques of harvesting, manuals (not competitive in a market economy) or by traditional mechanical means (with serious problems of dust, noise, chemicals, vibration, climate and mechanical hazards). The automated solution will ensure the total elimination of risks and allow important economic returns, by increasing the quality of the product mainly due to the timeliness of the harvesting. The expected product consists of a robot which operates in total autonomy, moving between plants and storing the nuts in special containers; the robot is integrated with systems for traceability and planning the harvesting procedures. World hazelnuts production exceeds 900.000 t, with a turnover of around USD 2 billion, so the commercial potential of innovation affects all the world and represents a technological solution currently non-existent. This robot will enable the Monchiero company to recover large market share over the Americans competitors, with an increase of competitiveness of EU's industry. The potential users are the hazelnuts producers, which need to improve the harvesting process and the operators' working conditions, in addition to solving the problem of finding skilled labor. Coryl Robot will meet all of these needs, in addition to provide the total traceability of the final product and to try to use renewable energy sources. In Phase 1 a detailed feasibility study will be carried out related to technical and economic challenges associated with the implementation of innovation (market analysis, cost-benefit analysis for machinery manufacturers and for hazelnuts producers). In Phase 2 the project intends to accomplish and test the Coryl Robot prototype, in order to evaluate different technological solutions, involving a research institution and some end users.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
