AMLIGHT
Development of an Automatic harvesting system for green asparagus with stalk detection in Ambient Light
| Coordinatore | STRAUSS VERPACKUNGSMASCHINEN GMBH
Organization address
address: FELIX WANKEL STRASSE 24 contact info |
| Nazionalità Coordinatore | Germany [DE] |
| Totale costo | 1˙394˙580 € |
| EC contributo | 1˙036˙000 € |
| Programma | FP7-SME
Specific Programme "Capacities": Research for the benefit of SMEs |
| Code Call | FP7-SME-2012 |
| Funding Scheme | BSG-SME |
| Anno di inizio | 2012 |
| Periodo (anno-mese-giorno) | 2012-11-01 - 2014-10-31 |
Partecipanti
| # | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
STRAUSS VERPACKUNGSMASCHINEN GMBH
Organization address
address: FELIX WANKEL STRASSE 24 contact info |
DE (BUXTEHUDE) | coordinator | 444˙340.00 |
| 2 |
IMIX VISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS BV
Organization address
address: VLIJTSEWEG 192 contact info |
NL (APELDOORN) | participant | 370˙140.00 |
| 3 |
AGRAR MAGNICE SP ZOO
Organization address
address: UL. PARKOWA 1 MAGNICE contact info |
PL (KOBIERZYCE) | participant | 77˙300.00 |
| 4 |
C.WRIGHT & SON GEDNEY LTD
Organization address
address: WHITEHOUSE FARM GEDNEY DYKE contact info |
UK (SPALDING) | participant | 75˙280.00 |
| 5 |
HANS-JUERGEN WERNER
Organization address
address: HAUPTSTRASSE 9 contact info |
DE (DEINSTE) | participant | 49˙740.00 |
| 6 |
CENTIV GMBH
Organization address
address: Villinger Weg 10 contact info |
DE (Stuhr) | participant | 19˙200.00 |
| 7 |
PROYECTOS Y FABRICACION ELECTRONICA SA
Organization address
address: PASEO MIKELETEGI 69 contact info |
ES (SAN SEBASTIAN) | participant | 0.00 |
| 8 |
UNIVERSITAET BREMEN
Organization address
address: Bibliothekstrasse 1 contact info |
DE (BREMEN) | participant | 0.00 |
Mappa
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Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)
'The main problem of harvesting green asparagus is the great need of seasonal workers. Usually between 1.5 and 2.5 workers are needed per ha. The high labour costs and unsatisfying working conditions have created over the last four decades the demand for a partial mechanization of the harvesting process. The increasing labour costs and the lack of in time labour supply have forced the asparagus farmers to optimize the harvesting process and to introduce harvesting aids. Several types of machines for the support of manual harvesting are available. However, all approaches towards fully automatically harvesting have failed so far, mainly for the following reasons: a) None of the currently available harvesters approach the yield and quality of hand harvesting, because of the aggressive harvest mechanization b) Damage to emerging spears with its immediate negative effect on yield and/or lack of profitability has slowed or stopped further experimentation or commercialization The AmLight project will overcome the current problems of automatically harvesting by implementing the following objectives: • Research & development of the AmLight detection system • Research & development of a harvesting mechanism • Research & Development of a self-driven carrier unit • Research & Development of a control program'
Introduzione (Teaser)
Although asparagus is a popular vegetable, it is also a labour-intensive and thus costly one to harvest. Machines could solve the dilemma, but so far humans have proven better harvesters.
Descrizione progetto (Article)
Popular because it is full of nutrients and low in calories, Europe's green asparagus is a major crop. Asparagus is also a major physical challenge for field workers harvesting it by hand, and a major expense for farmers paying for this painstaking labour. And yet, mechanised harvesting technology that matches human harvesters' yields and accuracy remains elusive.
An EU-funded consortium has resolved to address the issue through the http://www.amlight.eu (AMLIGHT) project. To date, AMLIGHT has consulted with three asparagus farmers in order to determine end-user needs and field-based limitations. Using specifications developed collaboratively with these farmers, researchers have already field-tested two components of a mechanised harvesting unit.
The first is an innovation the asparagus industry has long-awaited. AMLIGHT researchers successfully developed a harvesting tool capable of holding and cutting an asparagus stalk without damaging the plant and immature stalks. Although at this stage the tool is hand-held, it will eventually be integrated into a fully automated unit.
In another noteworthy advancement, AMLIGHT is designing a camera able to detect mature asparagus stalks in ambient light. Using cameras operating in stereo, the prototype has been calibrated and is undergoing field trials.
Remaining components of the AMLIGHT harvesting machine are still in preliminary development. Researchers are currently working on a carrier unit, and will also have to design, test and refine software to control the entire machine. AMLIGHT intends to test the completed prototype under farm conditions during the 2014 harvest season.
The innovative solution AMLIGHT is developing is an example of what can be achieved through participatory research. A successful AMLIGHT autonomous harvesting machine would reduce labour costs and thereby help European asparagus farmers remain competitive.