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Sweet Cherry Mechanical Harvest Technology Research at WSU. Prof. Qin Zhang Center for Precision & Automated Agricultural Systems Washington State University 2012 International Mechanical Harvest Symposium. WSU CPAAS: An Overview.
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Sweet Cherry Mechanical Harvest Technology Research at WSU Prof. Qin Zhang Center for Precision & Automated Agricultural Systems Washington State University 2012 International Mechanical Harvest Symposium
WSU CPAAS: An Overview The Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems (CPAAS) was established in 1999. Offer an integrated frameworkfor automated and precision agriculture efforts at WSU. Currently put a strong emphasis on specialty crop related research, including mechanical harvest
CPAAS: Trans-disciplinary Research • Growing: • Land preparation • Planting/transplanting • Pruning • Thinning • Managing: • Water management • Weeds management • Pest management • Disease management • Harvesting: • Maturity • Non-selective harvest • Selective harvest • Traceability • Post-harvesting: • Safety • Quality • Transporting • Traceability Economic Sciences Information Sciences Engineering Sciences Biological Sciences
Orchard System: Machine compatibility • Need for crop load uniformity • Range of orchard systems • Market size • Assist systems do not replace large numbers of employees • Capital investment required • WSU CPAAS, collaborating closely with industry, is developing a roadmap to develop mechanized fruit harvest systems. The near future focus - will be on fruit removal from the tree and transport the removed fruits to the bin. Challenges in Mechanical Harvest
Mechanical-Assist Harvest DBR Conveyor Concepts LLC Oxbo International -Picker Technology Van Doran Sales
A Total Systems Approach to Developing a Sustainable Stem-free Sweet Cherry Production, Processing and Marketing System - SCRI project 2009-02559 Project Directors: Matthew Whiting, Qin Zhang Washington State University Future Cherry Production Systems
Mechanical Harvest Performances Fruit removal/retrieval: Collected Left on tree On ground 1219 lbs 124 lbs 132 lbs 83% 8% 9% 1475 lbs