Intelligent Harvesting Tool for Non-Disruptive Data Collection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a device that can collect and manage geo-referencing information and product characteristics during manual harvesting of fruits and vegetables without disrupting the picker's activities, as current solutions do not exist for recording this information effectively.
Innovation Solution
An intelligent tool equipped with sensors and wireless communication capabilities that logs events and collects data on manually picked products, including position, size, and quality, using various sensors such as cameras, pressure sensors, and machine vision, and transmits this information wirelessly to an external database without interrupting the harvesting process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If geo-referencing information and product characteristics are recorded during manual harvesting, then data collection completeness is improved, but picker operation disruption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors (GPS, cameras, pressure sensors, size/shape sensors) that automatically detect and record harvesting events without requiring picker intervention. The intelligent tool self-activates when picking actions are detected, eliminating the need for manual data entry and avoiding disruption to the picker's workflow.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual logging actions are replaced by an automated electronic system using multiple sensors to detect picking events and automatically record geo-referencing information and product characteristics. This substitution eliminates the mechanical interaction between picker and recording device that would otherwise disrupt operations.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used to collect comprehensive data, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The intelligent tool integrates multiple sensors (GPS for location, cameras for visual inspection, pressure sensors for detection, size/shape sensors for dimensions) into a single multi-functional device. This universal tool performs diverse measurement functions that would otherwise require separate devices, managing complexity through integration rather than proliferation.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple sensing functions are merged into one intelligent tool that can simultaneously or sequentially collect geo-referencing information, product characteristics, and harvesting event data. The consolidation of multiple measurement capabilities into a single device reduces the number of separate components the picker would need to handle.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for collecting and managing data during an agricultural manual operation is provided. The agricultural manual operation includes harvesting, planting roots, cutting flowers, and pruning and thinning fruit trees or vegetables. The apparatus comprises: an intelligent tool configured to log an event including an agricultural manual operation when a picker succeeds in picking at least one harvested product by using the intelligent tool, or planting event when a worker succeeds in planting at least one product, or cutting flowers event when a worker succeeds in cutting at least one flower product, or pruning and thinning event when a worker succeeds in thinning fruit trees. The apparatus further comprises a means for collecting a set of data relevant to at least one manually picking event, or manually planting event, or manually cutting event, or manual pruning or thinning event.