Analyses of Work Efficiency of a Strawberry-Harvesting Robot in an Automated Greenhouse
Protected cultivation systems such as greenhouses are becoming increasingly popular globally and have been adopted because of unpredictable climatic conditions and their ability to easily control micro- and macroenvironments. However, limitations such as hazardous work environments and shortages in...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/11/1751 |
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| author | Seungmin Woo Daniel Dooyum Uyeh Junhee Kim Yeongsu Kim Seokho Kang Kyoung Chul Kim Si Young Lee Yushin Ha Won Suk Lee |
| author_facet | Seungmin Woo Daniel Dooyum Uyeh Junhee Kim Yeongsu Kim Seokho Kang Kyoung Chul Kim Si Young Lee Yushin Ha Won Suk Lee |
| author_sort | Seungmin Woo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Protected cultivation systems such as greenhouses are becoming increasingly popular globally and have been adopted because of unpredictable climatic conditions and their ability to easily control micro- and macroenvironments. However, limitations such as hazardous work environments and shortages in labor are major concerns for agricultural production using these structures. This has led to the development and adoption of robotic systems. For the efficient use of robots in protected cultivation systems, we formulate the work efficiency problem and model a three-dimensional standard strawberry greenhouse to analyze the effectiveness of a strawberry-harvesting robot compared to different levels of human workforce (experienced, average, and beginner). Simulations are conducted using Quest software to compare the efficiency of different scenarios of robotics to humans. Different methods of improvement from battery capacity and charge rate to harvesting speed are investigated and optimal conditions are recommended. The average hourly production of the robot is about five times lower than that of skilled workers. However, robots are more productive due to their ability to work around the clock. Comparative analyses show that a reduction in harvesting time per strawberry from 3 to 1 s would result in an increase in daily production from 347.93 to 1021.30 kg. This would lead to a five-fold increase in comparison to present daily production. A 10% improvement in battery charge time would result in the battery capacity gaining two extra hours from the current 10 h and would cut the current 2 h needed for charge to 1 h. This paper proposes an operation process and suggestions for changes needed for improving the work efficiency of robots in a greenhouse. This could be extended to other crops and greenhouses. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:56:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-93a7f77a0c7c49a39aaf1f6183ad6f86 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:56:00Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-93a7f77a0c7c49a39aaf1f6183ad6f862023-11-20T20:34:00ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952020-11-011011175110.3390/agronomy10111751Analyses of Work Efficiency of a Strawberry-Harvesting Robot in an Automated GreenhouseSeungmin Woo0Daniel Dooyum Uyeh1Junhee Kim2Yeongsu Kim3Seokho Kang4Kyoung Chul Kim5Si Young Lee6Yushin Ha7Won Suk Lee8Upland-Field Machinery Research Center, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, KoreaUpland-Field Machinery Research Center, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, KoreaDepartment of Bio-Industrial Machinery Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, KoreaDepartment of Bio-Industrial Machinery Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, KoreaDepartment of Bio-Industrial Machinery Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, KoreaDivision of Smart Farm Development, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do 54875, KoreaR&D Coordination Division, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do 54875, KoreaDepartment of Bio-Industrial Machinery Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, KoreaDepartment of Agricultural & Biological Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USAProtected cultivation systems such as greenhouses are becoming increasingly popular globally and have been adopted because of unpredictable climatic conditions and their ability to easily control micro- and macroenvironments. However, limitations such as hazardous work environments and shortages in labor are major concerns for agricultural production using these structures. This has led to the development and adoption of robotic systems. For the efficient use of robots in protected cultivation systems, we formulate the work efficiency problem and model a three-dimensional standard strawberry greenhouse to analyze the effectiveness of a strawberry-harvesting robot compared to different levels of human workforce (experienced, average, and beginner). Simulations are conducted using Quest software to compare the efficiency of different scenarios of robotics to humans. Different methods of improvement from battery capacity and charge rate to harvesting speed are investigated and optimal conditions are recommended. The average hourly production of the robot is about five times lower than that of skilled workers. However, robots are more productive due to their ability to work around the clock. Comparative analyses show that a reduction in harvesting time per strawberry from 3 to 1 s would result in an increase in daily production from 347.93 to 1021.30 kg. This would lead to a five-fold increase in comparison to present daily production. A 10% improvement in battery charge time would result in the battery capacity gaining two extra hours from the current 10 h and would cut the current 2 h needed for charge to 1 h. This paper proposes an operation process and suggestions for changes needed for improving the work efficiency of robots in a greenhouse. This could be extended to other crops and greenhouses.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/11/1751protected cultivationgreenhouserobotswork efficiencypremium crops |
| spellingShingle | Seungmin Woo Daniel Dooyum Uyeh Junhee Kim Yeongsu Kim Seokho Kang Kyoung Chul Kim Si Young Lee Yushin Ha Won Suk Lee Analyses of Work Efficiency of a Strawberry-Harvesting Robot in an Automated Greenhouse Agronomy protected cultivation greenhouse robots work efficiency premium crops |
| title | Analyses of Work Efficiency of a Strawberry-Harvesting Robot in an Automated Greenhouse |
| title_full | Analyses of Work Efficiency of a Strawberry-Harvesting Robot in an Automated Greenhouse |
| title_fullStr | Analyses of Work Efficiency of a Strawberry-Harvesting Robot in an Automated Greenhouse |
| title_full_unstemmed | Analyses of Work Efficiency of a Strawberry-Harvesting Robot in an Automated Greenhouse |
| title_short | Analyses of Work Efficiency of a Strawberry-Harvesting Robot in an Automated Greenhouse |
| title_sort | analyses of work efficiency of a strawberry harvesting robot in an automated greenhouse |
| topic | protected cultivation greenhouse robots work efficiency premium crops |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/11/1751 |
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