overview of the ifas citrus mechanical harvesting program jackie burns, uf/ifas-crec citrus...
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Overview of the IFAS Overview of the IFAS Citrus Mechanical Harvesting ProgramCitrus Mechanical Harvesting Program
Jackie Burns,UF/IFAS-CREC
Citrus Mechanical Harvesting Field DayApril 18, 2007
UF/IFAS-SWFREC, Immokalee
Priority Topics and RatingsPriority Topics and Ratings(Est. with SWFla Harv. Adv. Comt., Sept 2, 2005)
• High PriorityHigh Priority– Abscission managementAbscission management– Machine enhancements / improvementsMachine enhancements / improvements– Industry education and outreachIndustry education and outreach– Tree healthTree health– Late season problemLate season problem– Abscission registrationAbscission registration
Priority Topics and RatingsPriority Topics and Ratings(Est. with SWFla Harv. Adv. Comt., Sept 2, 2005)
• Medium PriorityMedium Priority– Shifting harvest seasonShifting harvest season– EconomicsEconomics
• Lower PriorityLower Priority– Model groveModel grove– Loads & allocationsLoads & allocations– Robotic harvest & conveyanceRobotic harvest & conveyance– Grove preparationGrove preparation
Effective application methodsEffective application methods
rates, timingrates, timing
Effects of abscission agents on yieldEffects of abscission agents on yield
Search for alternate abscission Search for alternate abscission compoundscompounds
Abscission ManagementAbscission Management
Coverage, volume, rate
Following yield after abscission agent application
Discovery of new abscission agents…
Making established agents work better…
Using the ‘tried and true’
Machine Enhancements and Improvements
On-board yield monitoring
Defining parameters of fruit detachment to optimize mechanical harvesting
Improving catch-frame efficiency
New weighing based system
Image based systemOptical counting based system
Field evaluation of mass flow sensor
Yield Monitoring System
ZigBee wireless sensor network was develop to study vibrational characteristics of canopy shaker
5C3F
1C 4F
4C2C
5F 2F
Evaluating the performance of the OXBO prototype pick-up machine
Improvement of canopy shaking mechanism to reduce tree injuries
Research/Other support for pick-up machine
Developing an auto steering system to maintain a constant distance from tree canopy
Master Slave3.2 m
5.0 m
2.6 m
Synchronization of forward speed harvesting machines
Improving Catching Frame Efficiency
Laser Scanners
Industry Education and Outreach
Development of mechanical harvesting and abscission-related information
Dissemination of information to the industry
field days, workshops, trade shows
trade journal articles
posters, brochures, website
Industry Education and Industry Education and Outreach ProgramOutreach Program
Website:Website:citrusMH.ifas.ufl.edu
Posters &Posters &BrochuresBrochures
MagazineMagazineArticlesArticles
Field Days &Field Days &WorkshopsWorkshops
HistoryCurrent MH SystemsMass HarvestersRoboticsGrove DesignAbscissionTree HealthEconomicsPublication DatabaseExtension Tools
http://citrusMH.ifas.ufl.edu
Tree HealthTree Health
Research has focused on: Leaf loss, Root function, Bark injury
Long term research experience has shown :-No additional tree loss-No reductions in overall tree health -No yield loss from mechanical harvesting
of ‘Hamlin’, ‘Pineapple’ & ‘Marsh’.
Tree HealthTree HealthLate Season ‘Valencia’ ProblemLate Season ‘Valencia’ Problem
Using winter-time drought stress:Q: Can bloom be delayed so
fruitlets will be too small to be removed by lateseason harvesting ?
A: In 2007: Yes, delayed 4 weeks? Mechanical harvesting? Will fruit maturation catch-up? Any reduction in yield ? Commercially practical ?
Late Season ‘Problem’
Determine criteria for successful late season harvest
rate, timing of abscission agent
aggressiveness of harvesting
Identify green fruit
sizes susceptible to
mechanical removal
Abscission Registration Support• Confirming efficacy of new
formulations
• Distribution of technical and formulated material for registration studies
circa 1980 2007
Economic StudiesEconomic Studies• Test Yield Hypothesis.
• Determine gleaner productivity.
• Decision-aid model http://www.citrustool.ifas.ufl.edu/
• Potential value of abscission
• (proposed) Estimate costs & benefits from removing debris at harvest site.
Integration with ProcessingIntegration with Processing
• Daily Load Allocations
• Fruit and juice quality parameters
• On-tree vs. Tank storage
Automated Robotic Citrus HarvestersAutomated Robotic Citrus Harvesters
Developing an arm to Developing an arm to sense, sense, travel to, and travel to, and pick fruitpick fruit
Vehicle Guidance in GroveVehicle Guidance in Grove
Moving toward unmanned 24-hr harvesting
Grove DesignGrove DesignHigh-Headed Nursery Trees
High-headed nursery trees
Retrofitting existing groves
Concept grove
of tomorrow
Program MembersProgram Members
Harold BrowningHarold Browning
Tom BurksTom Burks
Jackie BurnsJackie Burns
Bill CastleBill Castle
Michelle DanylukMichelle Danyluk
Bob Ebel*Bob Ebel*
Reza EhsaniReza Ehsani
Renee GoodrichRenee Goodrich
Barbara HymanBarbara Hyman
Kelly MorganKelly Morgan
Fritz RokaFritz Roka
Bob RouseBob Rouse
Tim SpannTim Spann
Jim SyvertsenJim Syvertsen
* Newest member of the abscission and harvesting team