WDC16: Integrated Systems Research and Development in Automation and Sensors for Sustainability of Specialty Crops
(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)
Status: Inactive/Terminating
WDC16: Integrated Systems Research and Development in Automation and Sensors for Sustainability of Specialty Crops
Duration: 10/01/2007 to 09/30/2008
Administrative Advisor(s):
NIFA Reps:
Non-Technical Summary
Statement of Issues and Justification
The Need: The continuing trend of declining available labor, combined with an increasing consumer desire for a safe and high quality food supply, the pressure of global competition, and the need to minimize the environmental footprint, represents challenges for specialty crop sustainability in the US. Producers and processors are urgently seeking new devices and systems which will aid them during production, harvesting, sorting, storing, processing, packaging, and transportation while also minimizing input costs.
Currently, there is a lack of effective and efficient sensors and automation systems for specialty crops. This is because many of the underlying biological processes related to quality and condition of fruits and vegetables are difficult to translate into engineering concepts. Biological variability, coupled with the variable environmental factors, makes it difficult to develop sensors and automation systems for effective implementation at various stages of the production, harvest and postharvest handling chain. Additionally, obtaining measurement of biological factors internal to the commodity is difficult using external, nondestructive sensors, as such devices or processes used must adapt to a wide variation in shape, size, and maturity of the commodity being processed. It is a challenge for any single specialty crop sector to afford the cost of research, development, and commercialization of this complex level of automation. It is thus important for public agency entities to assist this economically vital agricultural sector with sensor and automation research and development.
Importance of the Work: Previous incarnations (NE179 and NE1008) of this project have made considerable contributions in the development of sensors and the quantification of material properties to the fruit and vegetable industries. However, the steady increase in global competition and the recent decrease in available labor has increased the need for new technologies. A system-wide approach to developing automation for the specialty crop industry is critically needed to address economic and environmental sustainability challenges.
Technical Feasibility and the Value of a Multi-state Project: Recent scientific and technological advances have created an almost unlimited array of new technologies that can be applied to production, harvest, handling, and postharvest process automation. These include advanced biological and non-biological sensors, robotic actuators, localized and distributed computer processing, and new control algorithms which can adapt to the variability found in specialty crops.
A system-wide approach requires a wide range of talent and expertise, not likely to be found in one institution. A multi-state project with integrated research and extension effort is the best way to insure that technological breakthroughs are applied to practical problems and that industry is made aware of the latest technological developments in a timely manner.
Objectives
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Adapt biological concepts associated with specialty crop production, harvest, and postharvest handling into quantifiable parameters which can be sensed.
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Develop sensors and sensing systems which can measure and interpret the parameters.
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Design and evaluate automation systems which incorporate varying degrees of mechanization and sensors to assist specialty crop industries with labor, management decisions, and reduction of production costs.
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Work in partnership with equipment and technology manufacturers to commercialize and implement the outcomes of this project.
Procedures and Activities
Expected Outcomes and Impacts
- The overall impact of this project will be to enable specialty crop producers and processors to remain sustainable amongst the current and pending challenges faced.