Management support device, management support method, and management support program

Abstract

To achieve a technique that maintains or improves the quality of vegetables and fruits.SOLUTION: A management support device (10) determines environmental conditions in a container where vegetables and fruits are accommodated. This device includes: an identifying unit (13) that identifies the state of vegetables and fruits in the container; and a determination unit (14) that determines, based on the identified state, environmental conditions in the container necessary for maintaining or improving the state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a management support device, a management support method, and a management support program. [Background technology]

[0002] The selling price of fruits and vegetables is significantly affected by their quality at the time of harvest. To improve and stabilize fruit quality, it is common to improve cultivation management practices during the fruit's growing period. However, cultivation management practices for improving and stabilizing fruit quality can require complicated work, and determining the right time for processing can be difficult unless you are an experienced agricultural producer. Therefore, there is a need for the development of technologies for improving and stabilizing fruit quality that can be easily used by inexperienced producers who aim to sell fruits and vegetables with high added value, as well as by distributors who handle fruit after harvest.

[0003] As a technology aimed at improving and stabilizing the quality of harvested fruits and vegetables, Patent Document 1 describes a fruit coloring promotion device that promotes coloring of the skin of harvested fruits by irradiating the skin with light from an LED light source. Also, Patent Document 2 describes a fresh food preservation method that determines the condition of a plant based on the color of the plant obtained from image data of the plant, and controls the storage temperature according to the determination result. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-213360 [Patent Document 2] Republished Patent 2016 / 159274 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] After harvest, fruits and vegetables are stored in containers for a predetermined period of time and then transported to retailers for distribution in the market. Although efforts are made to prevent quality deterioration by properly managing the fruits and vegetables during storage and transportation, quality generally deteriorates. Therefore, it would be beneficial to have a technology that stabilizes the quality of fruits and vegetables during this distribution process. Furthermore, it would be even more beneficial if the quality of fruits and vegetables could not only be maintained but also improved during the distribution process.

[0006] The technology described in Patent Document 1 is a technology for promoting the coloring of fruit skins, but the optimal light irradiation conditions vary depending on the type and condition of the fruit, and it is not easy to set irradiation conditions to improve the quality of various fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, Patent Document 2 aims to prevent deterioration in the quality of fresh foods, not to improve the quality of fruits and vegetables after harvest.

[0007] One aspect of the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to realize a technology for maintaining or improving the quality of fruits and vegetables. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, one aspect of the present invention provides a management support device that determines the environmental conditions within a storage container that contains fresh produce, and is equipped with an identification unit that identifies the state of the fresh produce within the storage container, and a determination unit that determines the environmental conditions within the storage container based on the identified state to maintain or improve the state.

[0009] A management support method according to one aspect of the present invention is a management support method for determining the environmental conditions within a storage container that contains fresh produce, and includes a determination step of determining the state of the fresh produce within the storage container, and a determination step of determining the environmental conditions within the storage container based on the determined state, in order to maintain or improve the state.

[0010] The management support device according to each aspect of the present invention may be realized by a computer. In this case, the control program that realizes the device on a computer by causing the computer to operate as each part (software element) of the device, and the computer-readable recording medium on which the control program is recorded, also fall within the scope of the present invention. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to one aspect of the present invention, a technique for maintaining or improving the quality of fruits and vegetables can be realized. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a main part of a management system according to an aspect of the present invention. [Figure 2] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an environmental condition determination process executed by a management assistance device according to an aspect of the present invention. [Figure 3] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process for determining a transfer timing, a storage period, and environmental conditions executed by a transfer assistance device according to an aspect of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a sorting process performed by a sorting device according to an aspect of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] [Management System 100] A management system 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the main parts of the management system 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The management system 100, as an example, manages environmental conditions in the production and distribution processes of fruits and vegetables. The fruits and vegetables managed by the management system 100 are housed in a closed space, for example, in a storage container. The production process of fruits and vegetables can be, for example, the growth process of fruits and vegetables in an indoor space such as a plant factory. The distribution process of fruits and vegetables can be, for example, the storage, transportation, and sales process of fruits and vegetables after harvest. The management system 100 maintains or improves the quality of the fruits and vegetables by controlling the environmental conditions in the closed space in which the fruits and vegetables are housed during the production and distribution processes.

[0014] Examples of fruits and vegetables that can be managed in management system 100 include, but are not limited to, fruit trees such as apples, grapes, citrus fruits, pears, persimmons, peaches, plums, cherries, bananas, kiwifruit, blueberries, pineapples, tropical fruits, chestnuts, loquats, and prunes; fruit vegetables such as cucumbers, eggplants, tomatoes, peppers, pumpkins, sweet corn, green beans, snow peas, green peas, broad beans, and edamame; and fruit-like vegetables such as strawberries, melons, and watermelons.

[0015] The storage container (not shown) that stores the fruits and vegetables to be managed in management system 100 is, for example, a container that can store a plurality of fruits and vegetables. For example, the storage container is configured so that the temperature and humidity inside it can be adjusted and so that light can be irradiated onto the fruits and vegetables stored therein. For example, the storage container is equipped with a control device (not shown) that controls the environment inside it. For example, such a control device controls the temperature, humidity, and light irradiation inside the storage container.

[0016] The containers that house the fruits and vegetables to be managed in management system 100 may be equipped with LED light sources. For example, such LED light sources emit light in a wavelength range that promotes coloring of the skin of the fruits and vegetables. Irradiating the fruits and vegetables with light from the LED light source promotes the production of polyphenols, including anthocyanins, which are coloring substances, in the skin of the fruits and vegetables, thereby promoting the coloring of the fruits and vegetables.

[0017] The storage containers that are the object of management in the management system 100 can, for example, store and transport fruits and vegetables. For example, the storage containers are transported by being placed on the bed of a vehicle. For example, the storage containers are configured so that the internal environment can be adjusted during transportation. The temperature, humidity, and light irradiation inside the storage containers can be controlled by a control device during transportation.

[0018] 1 , the management system 100 includes a management support device 10 and a transportation support device 20. The management system 100 further includes a sorting device 30. The management system 100 also includes an imaging device 40, a measuring device 50, an input device 60, an output device 70, and a storage device 80. The management system 100 also includes a transport device 90. In the management system 100, the environmental conditions within the storage containers can be controlled based on the environmental conditions determined by the management support device 10 or the transportation support device 20.

[0019] The imaging device 40 photographs the fruits and vegetables to generate image data. One example of the imaging device 40 is a visible light camera. The imaging device 40 generates image data by photographing the fruits and vegetables in the storage container. The imaging device 40 outputs the generated image data to the management support device 10 and the sorting device 30. The imaging device 40 may store the generated image data in the storage device 80.

[0020] The measuring device 50 measures the components of fruits and vegetables. As an example, the measuring device 50 is a saccharometer that measures the sugar content of fruits and vegetables, or an acidity meter that measures the acidity of fruits and vegetables. The measuring device 50 may be a non-destructive measuring device that measures the components of fruits and vegetables non-destructively. The measuring device 50 outputs the measurement results of the components of fruits and vegetables to the management support device 10 and the sorting device 30. The measuring device 50 may store the measurement results of the components of fruits and vegetables in the memory device 80.

[0021] The input device 60 accepts input operations made by a user to the management system 100. As an example, the input device 60 accepts an input representing an instruction to start a process for determining environmental conditions in storage containers in the management support device 10. The input device 60 also accepts an input representing an instruction to start a process for predicting the time to transfer fruits and vegetables, determining a storage period, and determining environmental conditions in storage containers in the transport support device 20. The input device 60 also accepts an input of data used in predicting the time to transfer fruits and vegetables and determining a storage period in the transport support device 20. The input device 60 also accepts an input representing an instruction to start a sorting process for fruits and vegetables in the sorting device 30.

[0022] As an example, the output device 70 outputs information representing the environmental conditions inside the storage container determined by the management support device 10. Furthermore, as an example, the output device 70 outputs information representing the transfer time predicted by the transfer support device 20, the determined storage period, and the determined environmental conditions. Furthermore, the output device 70 outputs information representing the results of sorting by the sorting device 30. The manner of output by the output device 70 is not particularly limited. The output device 70 may be, for example, a display device that displays this information as an image, a printing device that prints this information, or an alarm device that outputs this information as sound. Furthermore, the output device 70 may be a display that displays this information, or may be the display of a mobile device such as a smartphone.

[0023] The storage device 80 stores programs and data used in the management system 100. The storage device 80 stores, for example, various data input via the input device 60. The storage device 80 also stores, for example, images of fruits and vegetables captured by the imaging device 40 and measurement values ​​of the fruits and vegetables measured by the measuring device 50. The storage device 80 also stores, for example, information used by the management support device 10 to determine environmental conditions within storage containers. The storage device 80 also stores, for example, information used by the transfer support device 20 to predict transfer times, determine storage periods, and determine environmental conditions within storage containers. The storage device 80 also stores, for example, information used by the sorting device 30 to sort the fruits and vegetables. The storage device 80 may have a database stored on a cloud or a server that stores various data.

[0024] The conveying device 90 conveys fruits and vegetables between the sorting device 30, the management support device 10, and the transfer support device 20. The conveying device 90 may also convey containers containing the fruits and vegetables. Examples of the conveying device 90 include a belt conveyor, a screw conveyor, and a pan conveyor. The conveying device 90 is equipped with a control unit (not shown), which can automate the transfer between the sorting device 30, the management support device 10, and the transfer support device 20. For example, the conveying device 90 transports fruits and vegetables in the order of the sorting device 30, the management support device 10, and the transfer support device 20. Furthermore, for example, the conveying device 90 transports fruits and vegetables in the order of the sorting device 30, the transfer support device 20, and the management support device 10.

[0025] (Management support device 10) The management support device 10 determines environmental conditions within a storage container that stores fruits and vegetables. As an example, the management support device 10 determines environmental conditions within the storage container to maintain or improve the condition of the fruits and vegetables.

[0026] The management support device 10 includes a control unit 11. The control unit 11 controls each unit of the management support device 10, and is realized by, for example, a processor and a memory. In this example, the processor accesses a storage (not shown), loads a program (not shown) stored in the storage into the memory, and executes a series of instructions included in the program. This constitutes each unit of the control unit 11. As each unit, the control unit 11 includes a data acquisition unit 12, an identification unit 13, and a determination unit 14.

[0027] <Data Acquisition Unit 12> The data acquisition unit 12 acquires at least one of image data of the fruits and vegetables in the storage container and measurement results of the components of the fruits and vegetables. The data acquisition unit 12 acquires image data of the fruits and vegetables generated by the imaging device 40. The data acquisition unit 12 also acquires measurement results of the components of the fruits and vegetables measured by the measuring device 50. The data acquisition unit 12 may acquire image data of the fruits and vegetables and measurement results of the components of the fruits and vegetables stored in the storage device 80. The data acquisition unit 12 outputs at least one of the acquired image data and information representing the measurement results to the identification unit 13.

[0028] <Specific part 13> The specifying unit 13 specifies the condition of the fruits and vegetables in the storage container. The specifying unit 13 specifies the condition of the fruits and vegetables based on at least one of image data of the fruits and vegetables and measurement results of the components of the fruits and vegetables. The specifying unit 13 specifies the condition of the fruits and vegetables based on image data of photographs of the fruits and vegetables. As an example, the specifying unit 13 specifies the color of the fruits and vegetables based on the image data of the fruits and vegetables. Also, as an example, the specifying unit 13 specifies the degree of damage of the fruits and vegetables based on the image data of the fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, as an example, the specifying unit 13 specifies the sugar content of the fruits and vegetables based on the measurement results of the sugar content of the fruits and vegetables. Also, as an example, the specifying unit 13 specifies the acidity of the fruits and vegetables based on the measurement results of the acidity of the fruits and vegetables. In other words, the specifying unit 13 specifies at least one of the color, sugar content, acidity, and degree of damage of the fruits and vegetables. The specifying unit 13 outputs information indicating the specified condition of the fruits and vegetables to the determining unit 14.

[0029] <Decision Unit 14> Based on the state of the fruit or vegetable identified by the identification unit 13, the determination unit 14 determines environmental conditions within the storage container to maintain or improve the state. As an example, the determination unit 14 determines environmental conditions within the storage container to maintain or improve at least one of the color, degree of damage, sugar content, and acidity of the identified fruit or vegetable. The environmental conditions determined by the determination unit 14 are at least one of the temperature condition, humidity condition, and light irradiation condition within the storage container. The determination unit 14 outputs information representing the determined environmental conditions to a control device (not shown) that controls the environment inside the storage container.

[0030] Here, the temperature conditions include information such as the set temperature in the storage container, the period for maintaining the set temperature, the timing for raising the set temperature, the timing for lowering the set temperature, etc. Furthermore, the humidity conditions include information such as the set humidity in the storage container, the period for maintaining the set humidity, the timing for raising the set humidity, the timing for lowering the set humidity, etc. Furthermore, the light irradiation conditions include information such as the illuminance, wavelength, irradiation time, etc. of the light irradiated onto the fruits and vegetables in the storage container.

[0031] For example, the determination unit 14 determines light irradiation and temperature conditions within the storage container to maintain or improve the color of the identified fruit or vegetable. The coloring of fruit or vegetable is promoted by light irradiation and temperature conditions. The determination unit 14 determines light irradiation and temperature conditions within the storage container so that the color of the fruit or vegetable becomes a desired color. For example, the determination unit 14 determines light irradiation conditions within the storage container to maintain or improve the sugar content of the fruit or vegetable. The sugar content of the fruit or vegetable is improved by light irradiation. The determination unit 14 determines light irradiation conditions within the storage container so that the sugar content of the fruit or vegetable becomes a desired sugar content. For example, the determination unit 14 determines a temperature within the storage container to maintain or improve the acidity of the fruit or vegetable. The acidity of the fruit or vegetable decreases by increasing the temperature of the environment surrounding the fruit or vegetable, which generally improves the taste. The determination unit 14 determines temperature conditions within the storage container so that the acidity of the fruit or vegetable becomes a desired acidity.

[0032] When the condition of the fruit or vegetable identified by the identifying unit 13 is inferior to a reference condition, the determining unit 14 determines the environmental conditions for bringing the condition of the fruit or vegetable into the reference condition. The determining unit compares the condition of the fruit or vegetable identified by the identifying unit 13 with a predetermined reference condition, and determines the environmental conditions in the storage container based on the comparison result. The reference condition may be a condition of the fruit or vegetable that meets the quality required for fruit or vegetable, a condition of fruit or vegetable that has high commercial value and is desired in the distribution process, etc.

[0033] For example, if the coloring degree required for a certain fruit or vegetable is 5, the determination unit 14 sets the reference state to a coloring degree of 5. If the coloring degree of the fruit or vegetable identified by the identification unit 13 is 3, the determination unit 14 determines the light irradiation and temperature conditions for promoting the coloring degree to 5 as the light irradiation and temperature conditions in the storage container. If the sugar content required for a certain fruit or vegetable is 20, the determination unit 14 sets the reference state to a sugar content of 20. If the sugar content of the fruit or vegetable identified by the identification unit 13 is 15, the determination unit 14 determines the light irradiation conditions for promoting the sugar content to 20 as the light irradiation conditions in the storage container. If the acidity required for a certain fruit or vegetable is 0.5, the determination unit 14 sets the reference state to an acidity of 0.5. If the acidity of the fruit or vegetable identified by the identification unit 13 is 1, the determination unit 14 determines the temperature conditions for making the acidity 0.5 as the temperature conditions in the storage container.

[0034] The determination unit 14 may refer to a data table that stores the relationship between the state of the fruit or vegetable and the environmental conditions within the storage container. Such a data table stores the relationship between the environmental conditions within the storage container and the state of the fruit or vegetable before and after storage in the storage container controlled to those environmental conditions. As an example, upon acquiring the state of the fruit or vegetable, the determination unit 14 determines the environmental conditions within the storage container that will improve the state of the fruit or vegetable to a reference state based on the relationship between the state of the fruit or vegetable prepared in advance in the data table, the environmental conditions within the storage container, and the state of the fruit or vegetable after storage in the storage container controlled to those environmental conditions.

[0035] The determination unit 14 receives information representing the states of the fruits and vegetables before and after being stored in the storage container, and obtains output of information representing the environmental conditions inside the storage container, using a trained model obtained by performing machine learning using training data in which the environmental conditions inside the storage container are associated with the states of the fruits and vegetables before and after being stored in the storage container controlled to those environmental conditions. That is, the determination unit 14 may use the trained model to determine the environmental conditions inside the storage container.

[0036] The trained model described above is generated using, for example, a known machine learning method such as a neural network, a decision tree, a random forest, or a support vector machine. The trained model described above is an environmental condition estimation model that has learned the correlation between the environmental conditions in a storage container and changes in the state of fruits and vegetables. The training data used to generate the trained model described above includes information obtained about fruits and vegetables previously stored in a storage container, representing changes in state before and after storage in the storage container under controlled environmental conditions. A model generation device that uses such training data to generate an environmental condition estimation model that estimates the environmental conditions in a storage container is also included in the scope of the present invention.

[0037] The management support device 10 determines environmental conditions within a storage container that maintain or improve the condition of the fruits and vegetables based on the state of the fruits and vegetables, thereby maintaining or improving the quality of the fruits and vegetables within the storage container. Therefore, for example, the quality of the fruits and vegetables can be improved while they are stored in the storage container after being harvested. Furthermore, the management support device 10 determines environmental conditions within a storage container that maintain or improve the condition of the fruits and vegetables based on image data of photographs of the fruits and vegetables and measurement results of the fruits and vegetables, so that the determination and control of the environmental conditions within the storage container can be performed automatically.

[0038] (Transfer support device 20) The transfer support device 20 determines the transfer time for the fruits and vegetables, the storage period for the fruits and vegetables, and the environmental conditions for the fruits and vegetables. As an example, the transfer support device 20 determines the environmental conditions in the storage containers in which the fruits and vegetables are stored during the transfer and storage of the fruits and vegetables.

[0039] The transportation support device 20 includes a control unit 21. The control unit 21 controls each unit of the transportation support device 20, and is realized by, for example, a processor and a memory. In this example, the processor accesses a storage (not shown), loads a program (not shown) stored in the storage into the memory, and executes a series of instructions included in the program. This configures each unit of the control unit 21. As each unit, the control unit 21 includes a data acquisition unit 22, a transportation time prediction unit 23, a storage period determination unit 24, and an environmental condition determination unit 25.

[0040] <Data Acquisition Unit 22> The data acquisition unit 22 acquires information representing the condition of the fruits and vegetables in the storage container, the availability of transportation means for transporting the storage container, and the inventory status of the fruits and vegetables at the sales location where the storage container is to be transported. The data acquisition unit 22 may acquire image data of the fruits and vegetables generated by the imaging device 40. The data acquisition unit 22 may also acquire measurement results of the components of the fruits and vegetables measured by the measuring device 50. The data acquisition unit 22 may acquire information representing the condition of the fruits and vegetables, the availability of transportation means, and the inventory status of the fruits and vegetables stored in the storage device 80. The data acquisition unit 22 outputs the acquired information to the transport time prediction unit 23. Here, the transportation means is, for example, a transport vehicle such as a truck. The sales location is, for example, a store that sells fruits and vegetables, such as a supermarket or a greengrocer.

[0041] <Transportation Time Prediction Unit 23> The transfer time prediction unit 23 predicts the transfer time of the fruits and vegetables based on the condition of the fruits and vegetables in the storage container, the availability of the transportation means for transporting the storage container, and the inventory status of the fruits and vegetables at the sales location of the fruits and vegetables to which the storage container is to be transported. For example, the transfer time prediction unit 23 references a data table that stores the relationship between the condition of the fruits and vegetables, the availability of the transportation means, the inventory status of the fruits and vegetables, and the transfer time of the fruits and vegetables. After acquiring the condition of the fruits and vegetables, the availability of the transportation means, and the inventory status of the fruits and vegetables, the transfer time prediction unit 23 predicts the transfer time of the fruits and vegetables based on the relationship between the information and the transfer time, which is prepared in advance in the data table, and outputs the predicted transfer time to the storage period determination unit 24 and the environmental condition determination unit 25. The transfer time prediction unit 23 also outputs the predicted transfer time of the fruits and vegetables to the output device 70.

[0042] The data table used by the transport time prediction unit 23 to predict the transport time of fruits and vegetables may be created in advance based on past performance. Furthermore, the data in the data table may be corrected based on the actual transport time.

[0043] The transportation time prediction unit 23 may predict the transportation time of the fruits and vegetables based on historical data, such as past seasonal sales price trends and inventory fluctuations in the sales area of ​​the fruits and vegetables, as well as real-time information such as the condition of the fruits and vegetables, the availability of transportation means, and the inventory status of the fruits and vegetables. Such historical data may be generated by the transportation support device 20 accumulating each data item, or may be generated from data accumulated on the cloud. The transportation support device 20 may add newly acquired information such as the sales price and inventory status to the historical data and update the historical data as needed. The transportation time prediction unit 23 may also refer to information representing the relationship between weather and sales performance in the sales area in the past. Here, the information representing the relationship between weather and sales performance in the sales area may, for example, be information representing the impact of weather on sales performance, such as high sales on sunny, hot days and low sales on rainy, cold days. In this way, by predicting the transportation time by referring to various data, the transportation time prediction unit 23 can improve prediction accuracy and strategically predict the transportation time.

[0044] <Storage Period Determining Unit 24> The storage period determination unit 24 determines the storage period for the fruits and vegetables based on the transfer time predicted by the transfer time prediction unit 23. The storage period determination unit 24 determines the storage period for the fruits and vegetables by adding the number of days until the predicted transfer time to the time when the fruits and vegetables are harvested or when the fruits and vegetables are placed in a storage container. The storage period determination unit 24 outputs the determined storage period for the fruits and vegetables to the environmental condition determination unit 25. The storage period determination unit 24 also outputs the determined storage period for the fruits and vegetables to the output device 70.

[0045] The storage period determination unit 24 may determine the storage period for the fruits and vegetables based on historical data such as seasonal sales price trends and inventory fluctuations in the sales area of ​​the fruits and vegetables in addition to the transfer period predicted by the transfer period prediction unit 23. Such historical data is similar to the historical data referred to by the transfer period prediction unit 23 when predicting the transfer period. As an example, the storage period determination unit 24 may determine the storage period so that the fruits and vegetables are stored until the period when the sales price becomes higher. In this way, the storage period determination unit 24 determines the storage period by referring to various data, thereby being able to appropriately determine the storage period and also being able to strategically determine the storage period.

[0046] <Environmental condition determination unit 25> The environmental condition determination unit 25 determines the environmental conditions within the storage container that stores the fruits and vegetables. The environmental condition determination unit 25 determines the environmental conditions within the storage container to maintain or improve the state of the fruits and vegetables, based on the transfer time of the fruits and vegetables predicted by the transfer time prediction unit 23, the storage period of the fruits and vegetables determined by the storage period determination unit 24, and the state of the fruits and vegetables within the storage container.

[0047] For example, when the condition of the fruits or vegetables is inferior to a reference condition, the environmental condition determination unit 25 determines the environmental conditions so as to improve the condition of the fruits or vegetables during transportation and storage. The method of determining the environmental conditions in the environmental condition determination unit 25 conforms to the method of determining the environmental conditions in the determination unit 14 of the management support device 10 described above.

[0048] Since the transport support device 20 determines environmental conditions within the storage containers that maintain the condition of the fruits and vegetables during transport and storage, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the condition of the fruits and vegetables during transport and storage. Furthermore, since the transport support device 20 determines environmental conditions within the storage containers that improve the condition of the fruits and vegetables during transport and storage, it is possible to improve the condition of the fruits and vegetables until they are transported to a sales location.

[0049] (Sorting device 30) The sorting device 30 sorts the fruits and vegetables based on their condition. The sorting device 30 sorts the fruits and vegetables according to their size, shape, color, presence or absence of scratches, etc. As an example, the sorting device 30 sorts the fruits and vegetables according to predetermined grades.

[0050] The sorting device 30 includes a control unit 31. The control unit 31 controls each unit of the sorting device 30, and is realized by, for example, a processor and a memory. In this example, the processor accesses a storage (not shown), loads a program (not shown) stored in the storage into the memory, and executes a series of instructions included in the program. This configures each unit of the control unit 31. As each unit, the control unit 31 includes a data acquisition unit 22 and a sorting unit 33.

[0051] <Data Acquisition Unit 32> The data acquisition unit 32 acquires at least one of image data of the fruits and vegetables in the storage container and measurement results of the components of the fruits and vegetables. The data acquisition unit 32 acquires image data of the fruits and vegetables generated by the imaging device 40. The data acquisition unit 32 also acquires measurement results of the components of the fruits and vegetables measured by the measuring device 50. The data acquisition unit 32 may acquire image data of the fruits and vegetables and measurement results of the components of the fruits and vegetables stored in the storage device 80. The data acquisition unit 32 outputs at least one of the acquired image data and information representing the measurement results to the sorting unit 33.

[0052] <Sorting Department 33> The sorting unit 33 sorts the fruits and vegetables based on at least one of image data of the fruits and vegetables and measurement results of the components of the fruits and vegetables. The sorting unit 33 outputs information indicating the sorting results of the fruits and vegetables to the output device 70. For example, the sorting unit 33 identifies the condition of the fruits and vegetables based on the size, shape, color, presence or absence of scratches, etc. of the fruits and vegetables based on the image data of the fruits and vegetables, and sorts the fruits and vegetables based on the identified condition of the fruits and vegetables. For example, the sorting unit 33 identifies the condition of the fruits and vegetables based on the sugar content, acidity, etc. of the fruits and vegetables based on the measurement results of the components of the fruits and vegetables, and sorts the fruits and vegetables based on the identified condition of the fruits and vegetables. The sorting unit 33 may sort the fruits and vegetables into predetermined grades.

[0053] The sorting device 30 sorts the fruits and vegetables based on image data of photographed fruits and vegetables and measurement results of the fruits and vegetables, and therefore can sort the fruits and vegetables automatically.

[0054] (Environmental condition determination process) The flow of the environmental condition determination process (management support method) performed by the management support device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the environmental condition determination process performed by the management support device 10 according to one aspect of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, first, the data acquisition unit 12 acquires at least one of image data of photographs of the fruits and vegetables in the storage container and measurement results of the components of the fruits and vegetables (step S11). Next, the identification unit 13 identifies the state of the fruits and vegetables based on at least one of the image data of the fruits and vegetables and the measurement results of the components of the fruits and vegetables (step S12, identification step). Then, the determination unit 14 determines environmental conditions within the storage container to maintain or improve the state of the fruits and vegetables based on the state of the fruits and vegetables (step S13, determination step). The determination unit 14 outputs information representing the determined environmental conditions to a control device (not shown) that controls the environment inside the storage container (step S14), and the environmental condition determination process ends.

[0055] (Transportation support processing) The flow of the transfer support process (transfer support method) performed by the transfer support device 20 will be described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the transfer support process performed by the transfer support device 20 according to one aspect of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, first, the data acquisition unit 22 acquires information indicating the state of the fruits and vegetables in the storage container, the availability of the transfer means for transferring the storage container, and the inventory status of the fruits and vegetables at the sales location of the fruits and vegetables to which the storage container is to be transferred (step S21). Next, the transfer time prediction unit 23 predicts the transfer time of the fruits and vegetables based on the state of the fruits and vegetables in the storage container, the availability of the transfer means for transferring the storage container, and the inventory status of the fruits and vegetables at the sales location of the fruits and vegetables to which the storage container is to be transferred (step S22, transfer time prediction step). Then, the storage period determination unit 24 determines the storage period of the fruits and vegetables based on the transfer time of the fruits and vegetables (step S23). Next, the environmental condition determination unit 25 determines the environmental conditions within the storage container to maintain or improve the condition of the fruits and vegetables based on the transfer time of the fruits and vegetables, the storage period of the fruits and vegetables, and the condition of the fruits and vegetables within the storage container (step S24).The environmental condition determination unit 25 outputs information representing the determined environmental conditions to a control device (not shown) that controls the environment inside the storage container (step S25), and ends the transfer support process.

[0056] (Sorting process) The flow of the sorting process (sorting method) performed by the sorting device 30 will be described with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the sorting process performed by the sorting device 30 according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, first, the data acquisition unit 32 acquires at least one of image data of photographs of the fruits and vegetables in the storage container and measurement results of the components of the fruits and vegetables (step S31). Next, the sorting unit 33 sorts the fruits and vegetables based on at least one of the image data of photographs of the fruits and vegetables and measurement results of the components of the fruits and vegetables (step S32, sorting process). Then, the sorting unit 33 outputs information representing the sorting results of the fruits and vegetables to the output device 70 (step S33), and the sorting process ends.

[0057] This structure will lead to the development of production and distribution technologies for fresh produce, which will contribute to achieving Goal 2 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), "Zero Hunger."

[0058] [Software implementation example] The functions of the management support device 10, the transport support device 20, and the sorting device 30 (hereinafter referred to as "devices") can be realized by programs (management support program, transport support program, and sorting program) that cause a computer to function as the devices, and that cause a computer to function as each control block of these devices (particularly each part included in control unit 11, control unit 21, and control unit 31).

[0059] In this case, these devices include a computer having at least one control device (e.g., a processor) and at least one storage device (e.g., a memory) as hardware for executing the program. The functions described in each of the above embodiments are realized by executing the program using the control device and storage device.

[0060] The program may be non-transitory and may be recorded on one or more computer-readable recording media. The recording media may or may not be included in the device. In the latter case, the program may be supplied to the device via any wired or wireless transmission medium.

[0061] Furthermore, some or all of the functions of the control blocks can be realized by logic circuits. For example, an integrated circuit in which a logic circuit that functions as each of the control blocks is formed is also included in the scope of the present invention. In addition, the functions of the control blocks can also be realized by, for example, a quantum computer.

[0062] Furthermore, each process described in each of the above embodiments may be executed by AI (Artificial Intelligence). In this case, the AI ​​may run on the control device or on another device (for example, an edge computer or a cloud server).

[0063] (summary) A management support device according to a first aspect of the present invention is a management support device that determines the environmental conditions within a storage container that contains fresh produce, and is equipped with an identification unit that identifies the state of the fresh produce within the storage container, and a determination unit that determines the environmental conditions within the storage container based on the identified state to maintain or improve the state.

[0064] A management support device according to a second aspect of the present invention is a management support device according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the determination unit, in the management support device according to claim 1, determines environmental conditions for bringing the state of the fruits and vegetables identified by the identification unit to the standard state when the state of the fruits and vegetables identified by the identification unit is inferior to the standard state.

[0065] A management support device according to a third aspect of the present invention is a management support device according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, in which the determination unit inputs information representing the state of fruits and vegetables before and after being stored in the storage container using a trained model obtained by performing machine learning using training data that corresponds the environmental conditions inside the storage container with the state of the fruits and vegetables before and after being stored in the storage container controlled to those environmental conditions, and obtains an output of information representing the environmental conditions inside the storage container.

[0066] A management support device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the management support device according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, wherein the storage container is capable of storing and transporting fruits and vegetables.

[0067] A management support device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is a management support device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, wherein the identification unit identifies the condition of the fruits and vegetables based on image data of the fruits and vegetables.

[0068] A management support device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is a management support device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, wherein the environmental conditions are at least one of temperature conditions, humidity conditions, and light irradiation conditions within the storage container.

[0069] A seventh aspect of the present invention is a management support device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects of the present invention, wherein the condition of the fruits and vegetables is at least one of the color, sugar content, acidity, and degree of damage of the fruits and vegetables.

[0070] A transportation support device according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is equipped with a transportation time prediction unit that predicts the transportation time of the fruits and vegetables based on the condition of the fruits and vegetables in the storage container, the availability of the transportation means that transports the storage container, and the inventory status of the fruits and vegetables at the sales location of the fruits and vegetables to which the storage container is transported.

[0071] A transportation support device according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is a transportation support device according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, further comprising a storage period determination unit that determines a storage period for the fruits and vegetables based on the transportation time predicted by the transportation time prediction unit.

[0072] A transportation support device according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is a transportation support device according to the eighth or ninth aspect of the present invention, further comprising an environmental condition determination unit that determines environmental conditions within the storage container to maintain or improve the condition of the fruits and vegetables based on the transportation time predicted by the transportation time prediction unit, the storage period determined by the storage period determination unit, and the condition of the fruits and vegetables within the storage container.

[0073] A management system according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention includes a management support device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects of the present invention and a transportation support device according to any one of the eighth to tenth aspects of the present invention.

[0074] A management system according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention is the management system according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, further comprising a sorting device that sorts the fruits and vegetables based on the state of the fruits and vegetables.

[0075] A management system according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention is a management system according to the eleventh or twelfth aspect of the present invention, further comprising a transport device for transporting fresh produce between the sorting device, the management support device, and the transport support device.

[0076] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 10 Management support equipment 11 Specific section 12 Decision Section 20 Transfer support device 23 Transfer Time Prediction Department 24 Storage Period Determination Department 25 Environmental condition determination unit 30 Sorting equipment 33 Sorting Department 100 Management Systems

Claims

1. A management support device for determining environmental conditions in a storage container that stores fruits and vegetables, an identification unit that identifies the state of the fruits and vegetables in the storage container; a determination unit that determines environmental conditions within the storage container based on the identified state to maintain or improve the identified state; Equipped with The identifying unit identifies the state of the fruit or vegetable based on at least one of image data of the fruit or vegetable and measurement results of components of the fruit or vegetable; the determination unit inputs information representing the states of the fruits and vegetables before and after being stored in the storage container, and obtains an output of information representing the environmental conditions inside the storage container, using a trained model obtained by performing machine learning using training data in which the environmental conditions inside the storage container are associated with the states of the fruits and vegetables before and after being stored in the storage container controlled to the environmental conditions; Management support equipment.

2. The management support device according to claim 1 , wherein, when the condition of the fruit or vegetable identified by the identifying unit is inferior to a reference condition, the determining unit determines environmental conditions for bringing the condition of the fruit or vegetable into the reference condition.

3. The management support device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the container is capable of storing and transporting fruits and vegetables.

4. The management support device according to claim 1 , wherein the specifying unit specifies the state of the fruit or vegetable based on image data of the fruit or vegetable.

5. The management support device according to claim 1 , wherein the environmental condition is at least one of a temperature condition, a humidity condition, and a light irradiation condition inside the storage container.

6. The management support device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the condition of the fruit or vegetable is at least one of the color, sugar content, acidity, and degree of damage of the fruit or vegetable.

7. A management support method for determining environmental conditions in a storage container that stores fruits and vegetables, comprising: a computer-implemented identification step of identifying the state of the fruits and vegetables in the storage container; a determining step in which the computer determines environmental conditions within the storage container based on the identified state to maintain or improve the state; It encompasses In the identifying step, the state of the fruit or vegetable is identified based on at least one of image data of the fruit or vegetable and measurement results of components of the fruit or vegetable; In the determination step, a trained model is obtained by performing machine learning using training data in which the environmental conditions inside the storage container are associated with the states of the fruits and vegetables before and after being stored in the storage container controlled to those environmental conditions, and information representing the states of the fruits and vegetables before and after being stored in the storage container is input and output to obtain information representing the environmental conditions inside the storage container. Management support methods.

8. 2. A management support program for causing a computer to function as the management support device according to claim 1, the management support program causing the computer to function as the specifying unit and the deciding unit.

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