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Mass Harvesters :: Analytical Model -
Determine Optimal Shaking Frequency of the Tree Canopy

Annual Progress Report:

Description

The simulation program for evaluating shaking characteristics can assist in developing better shaking and fruit removal mechanism.

Objective:

To develop an analytical model that can be used for optimal shaking of tree canopy based on the canopy volume.

Key Findings (Updated 07/10):

An analytical model with a simulation framework based on finite element methods was developed and validated with field-experiments. The results indicated that the analytical model could predict ~60% variations in acceleration values experienced by the tree. The model could determine the accelerations in the tree structure for different boundary conditions (machine parameters).

Activities Planned for 2010-2011

More field trials will be conducted to establish that 65-165 variable frequency is the optimal shaking parameter for tree canopies.

Publications and Extension Products

Research:

Annual Progress Report
[View]

Savary, S. K. J. U. , R. Ehsani, J. K. Schueller, B. P. Rajaraman Mishra. Simulation study of citrus tree canopy motion during harvesting using a canopy shaker. 21 pages. Transactions of ASABE. (Submitted March 2010)

Savary, S. K. J. U. , R. Ehsani, M. Salyani, and M.A. Hebel. Study of force distribution in citrus tree canopy during harvesting using a canopy shaker. 21 pages. Journal of Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. (Submitted May 2010)

Ehsani, R. and D. Karimi. Yield Monitors for Specialty Crops. 14 pages. Special issue of the Journal of Computer and Electronic in Agriculture. (Submitted August 2009)

Ehsani, R. Mechanization and Productivity Aides for Crop Production and Harvesting: The Status of Mechanization for Citrus. 10 pages. Special issue of the Journal of Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. (Submitted March 2009).

Non-refereed Publications:

Ehsani, R., and S. Udumala. 2010. Mechanical harvesting of citrus. Resource. May/June: pp. 4-6.

Maja, J. M. and R. Ehsani. 2009. Development of a new load-cell based yield monitor for citrus. Proceedings of the Symposium on the Applications of Precision Agriculture for Fruits and Vegetables International Conference. ISHS, Acta Horticulturae 824: 267-274.

Patil, R., W. S. Lee, R. Shankar and R. Ehsani. 2009. Detection and Elimination of Trash using Machine Vision and Extended De-Stemmer for a Citrus Canopy Shake and Catch Harvester. Proceedings of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers (Florida Section Meeting). Daytona Beach, FL. FASAE Paper No. FL09-129.

Ehsani, R. 2009. Maximizing field efficiency of farm machinery using GPS data. Citrus Industry. July: pp. 10-11.

Extension:

Ehsani, R. (Presenter) "Current Machinery and Machine Enhancement for Mechanical Harvesting of Citrus ", Immokalee, FL. Dec. 8, 2009.

Ehsani, R. (Presenter) "Current Machinery and Machine Enhancement for Mechanical Harvesting of Citrus ", Ft. Pierce, FL. Sep. 24, 2009.

Ehsani, R. (Presenter) "Automation and Mechanical Harvesting for Fruit Production", University of Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan, July 14, 2009.

For more information

Contact:
Reza Ehsani


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