Update on Vineland s Labour Saving Technology

Transcription

1 Update on Vineland s Labour Saving Technology John Van de Vegte P.Eng. Project Manager, Robotics and Automation Program john.vandevegte@vinelandresearch.com

2 Vineland s Robotic and Automation Program Program objective is to develop automated systems and other technologies which serve to reduce production costs for the Horticulture Industry in Canada. Solutions must be commercially viable for Growers to implement in their Orchards and Greenhouses. Orchard Production Costs Greenhouse Production Costs 27% 49% Labour Fertilizer Sprays 26% 19% Plant Material Purchases Labour Fuel 3% 3% 9% Fuel Maintenance 12% 10% 30% Electricity 6% 3% Irrigation Other 3% Other Crop Expenses Other Operating Expenses [1] Fresh Market Peach Source: OMAFRA 2010 [2] Greenhouse Horticulture Source: Statistics Canada 2012

3 Need for Technology in Horticulture Survey entitled Innovation and Labour Issues, Survey for the Horticultural Sector conducted by Horticulture Value Chain Round Table, Labour Working Group in respondents from British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec Level of Automation Compared to Average in Sub-Sector: Why is Innovative or Labour-Saving Technologies Not Being Implemented?: 60% 50% Very Automated 30% Capital Investment Too High 25% RoI Too Low 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Somewhat Automated Not Automated Unknown/No Answer 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Technology Not Available Difficulty to Source Technology Lack of Training/Know- How Unable to Get Financing Other

4 Need for Technology in Horticulture Competitive Advantage Gained Through Innovation/Automation: What is Reasonable Payback Period?: 50% Reduce 45% Labour Cost 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Higher Productivity Enhance Product Quality Improve Employee Safety Enhance Food Safety 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 1-2 Years 3-5 Years 6-10 Years >10 Years

5 Review of Labour-Saving Technologies in Horticulture Report prepared by Vineland for the Horticulture Value Chain Round Table, Labour Working Group in 2013 as follow up to survey Available on Vineland website: Summary of Commercially Available / Emerging Technologies Case Studies of Production Cycle for Variety of Industry Sectors Global Competition Impacts

6 Opportunity to Automate Sub-Sector Tender Fruit (Peach) Apple (Orchard) Apple (Pack House) Field Vegetable (Carrot) Field Vegetable (Onion) Greenhouse Vegetables (English Cucumber) Greenhouse Vegetables (Mini Cucumber) Greenhouse Vegetables (Mini Cucumber Packaging) Greenhouse Vegetable (Tomato Packaging) Ornamental Greenhouse (Cut Flowers) Ornamental Greenhouse (Potted Plants) Highest Labour Component Harvest Harvest Load to Trays Bag Carrots Transplant Seedlings Pruning / Thinning / Winding Harvest Grade and Load to Trays Load to Trays Harvest and Package Package Operations with highest labour component vary by sub-sector and product Must investigate each opportunity in detail to determine feasibility of automation

7 Opportunity to Automate Functional + Financial Can automation provide necessary functionality, productivity, utilization etc.? Can automation be made for acceptable Return on Investment? Commercially Available? No Risk! Emerging Technology? Development Required Risk! Research & Development Manufacture Prototype Test and Approve Prototype System Regulatory: CSA, PSR, RoHS etc Manufacture Serial Production Version

8 Partnerships Manage Risk Funded 50% by Federal Development Agency of Southern Ontario Balance funded through cash & inkind contributions from program partners Project Management & System Engineering: Vineland Research and Innovation Centre Grower Partners: Pioneer Flower Farms Sunrise Greenhouses Westbrook Floral Monaghan Mushrooms Technology Partners: Robot Manufacturer: AEMK Systems Custom Automation Integrator: CMP Vision System Developer: Harvest Robotics Manufacturer: John G Wilson Machine

9 Planting Project Objective Automated planting of tulip bulbs, seedling plugs and cuttings employing one flexible, modular machine. Status Seedling plug planting module testing conducted in commercial greenhouse with approx. 35,000 plugs planted at rate of 1,900 per hour. Bulb planting module plants bulbs at rate of approx 2,200 per hour. Cuttings planting process to be completed by the end of February 2014.

10 Packaging Project Objective Automated packaging of greenhouse ornamentals. Status (2)-module prototype system designed, built and validated. Approx. 10,000 ornamental plants packaged at commercial greenhouse (Tulip, Kalanchoe and Mini-Rose). Achieved 1,000 plants packaged per hour.

11 Robotic Harvesting Project Objective Robotic graze harvesting of mushrooms. Status Custom vision system (camera, lighting and data processing software) locates, measures and tracks cap diameter. Harvest software controls graze harvest to maximize crop yield. Software validated at mushroom farm. Custom designed mushroom gripper developed, manufactured and validated at mushroom farm. Final system integration to be completed and validated over next 2 months using mushrooms grown at Vineland.

12 Wireless Sensor Project Objective Predict mushroom cap diameter growth for specific environmental conditions Status Development of low cost mini-sensors to track Compost Temp, RH, Casing Moisture Content and CO 2 Concentration Wireless communication capability on-board Flash memory on-board Prototype sensors complete and validated in lab Testing in mushroom crop to commence this month

13 Other Activities Field trails conducted with Clearpath Robotics Autonomous Vehicle Spraying Mowing Towing Cultivating Seeding Bird Deterrent

14 New Opportunities? It is possible to develop new technologies to support the specific requirements of the Canadian Horticulture Industry The expertise required does exist in Canada Strong cross-functional partnerships are the key What is next challenge?

15 Acknowledgements: Federal Development Agency of Southern Ontario Monaghan Mushroom Farms Pioneer Flower Farms Sunrise Greenhouse Westbrook Floral Ltd AEMK Systems Inc. CMP Automation Inc. Harvest Robotics Niagara College Brock University