Harvester
Agri - System integration - Mobile control
A harvest aid for apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, plums and oranges, among others.
Background
For 50 years, the Pluk-O-Trak from Munckhof Fruit Tech Innovators has been a versatile harvesting aid used to quickly, efficiently and ergonomically pick fruits such as apples, pears, citrus and cherries. Pickers work from the ground or via the horizontally and vertically movable picking platforms up to more than four meters in tree height. They place the fruit on narrow movable conveyor belts after which the fruit is distributed to crates. Working with the Pluk-O-Trak results in labor savings of up to 30% and improved fruit quality by reducing harvest damage. Outside the picking season, the machine is an effective aid in thinning and pruning trees.
This new generation harvester lays an important foundation for a fully automatic harvesting process by providing the logistics chain with a modern and future-oriented control system. At the same time, it offers us a tremendous technical challenge to further develop the Pick-O-Trak into an autonomous harvesting robot.
Challenge
Munckhof Fruit Tech Innovators wants to serve its customers better and faster in the future with innovative and reliable harvesting techniques. Munckhof's ambition is to rapidly further develop its Pluk-O-Trak into a reliable, self-propelled harvesting machine that can perform tasks very efficiently and automatically collect comprehensive crop and harvest information. Therefore, a robust basic control system must be developed, suitable to operate in hilly, sandy and rocky conditions prevailing in orchards at an extremely competitive price level.
Solution
We developed a completely redesigned controller and software for the Pluk-O-Trak. Using robust mobile control hardware increases the reliability and service level of the Pluk-O-Trak. We have equipped the harvester with a smart variably adjustable straight-row control that continues to automatically navigate through the center even with crooked trees or on slopes. Useful when trimming from one side. The operation of the machine is further simplified by robust push buttons and a joystick so that anyone can operate the machine.
The entire machine was electrified, not only for the sake of sustainability, but also as a basis for further automation, digitization, robotization, navigation and application of camera techniques.
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