Segmented Robotic Harvesting Platform for Orchard Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional robotic harvesters have long, complex arms that are expensive, energy-intensive, and reduce accuracy and efficiency due to their length, requiring massive engines and limiting the number of arms that can be installed, making them cumbersome and inefficient for harvesting fruits at various heights in orchards.
Innovation Solution
A robotic harvesting platform system with a support frame, an elongated platform, and multiple short-length robotic harvesting units positioned at different heights, each equipped with independent fruit detection units and a computing system for autonomous operation, allowing simultaneous harvesting at various tree heights without the need for long, cumbersome arms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If long robotic arms are used to reach all areas of the tree, then harvesting coverage is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the harvesting function into multiple independent robotic units, each with short arms, positioned at different heights on the platform. This segmentation replaces the need for single long arms, reducing complexity while maintaining comprehensive harvesting coverage across different tree zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from vertical extension (long arms reaching upward) to horizontal distribution (multiple units positioned along the platform length). By adding the horizontal dimension to the platform structure, the system achieves full tree coverage without requiring vertically extended long arms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If long robotic arms are used to reach treetop, then harvesting capability is improved, but energy consumption increases due to massive engines required
Solution Approach 1:
The harvesting function is segmented into multiple independent units with short arms, each consuming minimal energy. This replaces the energy-intensive long arm system, as each short-arm unit requires significantly less power to operate while collectively achieving the same treetop harvesting capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple low-power robotic units are combined on a single platform to achieve the harvesting capability previously requiring one high-power long-arm system. The collective action of multiple energy-efficient units replaces the energy-intensive single-unit approach.
3Length of moving object
If long robotic arms are used for harvesting, then reach is improved, but harvesting accuracy decreases due to long vertical movements
Solution Approach 1:
The harvesting system is segmented into multiple units positioned at different heights, each with short arms performing localized harvesting. This eliminates the long vertical movements inherent in single long-arm systems, thereby maintaining high harvesting accuracy while achieving full tree reach through distributed positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces vertical reach extension with horizontal platform distribution. By positioning units along the platform's horizontal axis at different heights, the system achieves full vertical coverage without requiring long vertical arm movements, thus preserving harvesting accuracy.
4Productivity
If multiple long robotic arms are installed on each platform, then harvesting capability is improved, but device cost increases making it expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple independent short-arm robotic units distributed on the platform, each performing harvesting in its local zone. This segmented approach achieves high productivity without requiring multiple expensive long-arm systems, as each short-unit is significantly less costly while their collective output matches or exceeds that of fewer long-arm systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs multiple inexpensive short-arm robotic units instead of fewer expensive long-arm systems. The short-arm units are more cost-effective to manufacture and maintain, and their multiplicity provides the same or better harvesting capability at lower overall equipment cost.
5Length of moving object
If long robotic arms are used, then reach is improved, but the number of arms that can be installed is limited due to platform space
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from vertical stacking or limited horizontal spacing of long arms to distributed positioning of multiple short units along the platform's horizontal axis. This dimensional shift allows many more harvesting units to be installed on the same platform, increasing the number of concurrent harvesting operations without increasing platform height or reducing individual reach capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a robotic harvesting platform system for harvesting or diluting fruits in an orchard, the system comprising an elongated platform attached to a support frame, and two or more robotic harvesting units associated therewith at different points thereon.