DEVELOPMENT OF AN AUTOMATED AND INTEGRATED MOBILE SYSTEM (AIMS) FOR APPLE HARVEST AND IN-FIELD SORTING

• Sponsoring Institution: Agricultural Research Service/USDA
• Project Status: ACTIVE
• Funding Source: USDA COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0446142
• Project Start Date: Apr 1, 2024
• Project End Date: Jul 14, 2027
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
Prototech, Inc
9675 West Cutler Road
Eagle,MI 48822-9531

Performing Department
(N/A)

Non Technical Summary
(N/A)

Animal Health Component

30%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

20%

Applied

30%

Developmental

50%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
402	1110	2020	100%

Knowledge Area
402 - Engineering Systems and Equipment;

Subject Of Investigation
1110 - Apple;

Field Of Science
2020 - Engineering;

Keywords

apple

extension

specialty

crops

outreach

harvest

automation

robotics

in-field

sorting

ecoomic

analysis

Goals / Objectives
Obtain technical support from in the design, assembly, and installation of harvesting robots, lighting control unit, in-field sorter, fruit transporter and bin fillers with a new autonomous mobile platform.

Project Methods
Cooperator will work closely with Agency researchers to provide technical support in the development of an automated and integrated mobile system (AIMS) for apple harvesting and in-field sorting. Specifically, the cooperator will perform these specific tasks: 1) assisting in the design and assembly of harvesting robot units; 2) design and assembly of bin fillers and a fruit transporting unit; 3) assisting in design and assembly of an in-field sorter; 4) building a light control system; and 5) assisting in installation and integration of robot units, bin fillers, fruit transport unit and in-filed sorter on a mobile platform.