Technology

Fully automated cherry truss tomato harvesting robot 'Artemy.' (Image source: DENSO)

DENSO CORPORATION and its group company, Certhon Build BV have designed an innovative robot that can perform a series of cherry truss tomato harvesting tasks in a fully automatic manner

The fully automated cherry truss tomato harvesting robot, Artemy can perform a series of cherry truss tomato harvesting tasks:

• Automatic Harvesting Function: It automatically runs on a running lane and uses AI to determine the ripeness of cherry truss tomatoes. Only ripe tomatoes are selected, and cherry truss tomato peduncles are cut using scissors attached to the top of the harvesting robot arm and stored in the loaded crates.
• Automatic Lane Change Function: Artemy uses sensing technology to recognise obstacles in the path and the running lane to which it is traveling so it can move safely and accurately to adjacent running lanes even in trackless environment. 
• Automatic Crates Replacement: Artemy automatically replaces a full crate.
• Automatic Crates Transfer: When all six crates are loaded, Artemy automatically moves to the trolley where the empty crates are placed and replaces all the crates at once. 

Since Artemy has replaceable batteries, it can run for longer periods without down time for charging. It is also equipped with a cluster and a peduncle detection LED to achieve a highly accurate harvest under direct sunlight during the day and under supplemental lighting during the night. These functions enable continuous operation throughout the day and night, helping increase operational efficiency, address potential labour shortages and significantly reduce heavy work for farmers.

“DENSO's expertise in mobility and manufacturing, encompassing image recognition, safe driving, and robotics, is integrated into all of Artemy's operations, from the automatic harvesting of cherry truss tomato to the automatic lane changes," said DENSO's senior executive officer in charge of the Food Value Chain Business Development Division, Hidehiro Yokoo. "Going forward, DENSO will continue to combine its technology with Certhon's cultivation know-how and horticulture technology to achieve the stable production that DENSO and Certhon aim for worldwide, making it possible for ‘Growing anything, anywhere. For everyone.'”

The focus on ventilation, structural integrity, and ease of handling reflects a dedication to humane treatment and high-quality outcomes. (Image source: Walker Poultry Trailers)

Leading provider of specialised transport solutions for the poultry industry, Walker Poultry Trailers, highlights the critical role that well-designed poultry trailers play in ensuring animal welfare during transport

Founder of Walker Poultry Trailers, Dwayne Walker emphasises the significance of using advanced poultry live haul trailers to maintain high standards of animal welfare. Properly designed poultry trailers are essential in minimising stress and ensuring the humane treatment of birds throughout the journey.

A number of factors including ventilation, structural integrity and stability and easy loading and unloading are all key features that promote animal welfare. Firstly, adequate ventilation is crucial for maintaining proper airflow within the trailer. This helps prevent heat stress and suffocation, especially in warm climates. Secondly, the design of poultry trailers must ensure the structural integrity and stability of the transport units. This includes sturdy construction, appropriate spacing, and secure enclosures to prevent injury and overcrowding. Thirdly, trailers with well-designed ramps, adjustable heights, and non-slip surfaces facilitate the safe movement of birds.

The use of specialised poultry trailers offers several benefits to poultry companies, particularly in terms of animal welfare and operational efficiency. Dwayne Walker notes that the primary goal is to ensure that birds arrive at their destination in good condition, which directly impacts the quality of the end product. 

By providing a stable and controlled environment, poultry trailers help reduce mortality rates during transport. This not only supports animal welfare but also minimises financial losses associated with bird fatalities. Maintaining optimal conditions during transport helps preserve the health and quality of the birds. This is crucial for poultry companies aiming to deliver high-quality products to the market. The use of advanced poultry trailers aligns with industry regulations and animal welfare standards, which is increasingly important as consumers and regulatory bodies demand higher standards of animal care. Efficient loading and unloading processes, coupled with reduced stress on birds, streamline operations and improve overall efficiency.

The focus on ventilation, structural integrity, and ease of handling reflects a dedication to humane treatment and high-quality outcomes. In conclusion, the role of poultry trailers in ensuring animal welfare during transport cannot be overstated. The right equipment not only safeguards the well-being of birds but also enhances the efficiency and reputation of poultry companies.

Brawijaya lecturer Dr Rita Parmawati with the organic mulch tape from banana waste, water hyacinth and paitan leaf. (Image source: ANTARA/HO-Universitas Brawijaya)

An organic mulch tape developed by Dr Rita Parmawati, a lecturer from the Faculty of Agriculture of Brawijaya University has helped suppress weed growth, while also reducing soil surface evaporation rate

The mulch tape is made from banana waste, water hyacinth and paitan leaves. According to Dr Parmawati, the new technology will be applied at the start of the second planting season in Malaka District, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), where an abundance of banana waste can be found. Mulch tape offers a myriad of benefits which include suppressing weed growth and reducing surface evaporation by up to 40%. Moreover, sun exposure enables the organic mulch to decompose into fertiliser. 

The mulch tape application process is currently being carried out on a laboratory scale and is at the socialisation stage with the Regent of Malaka Regency, several farmer groups, and heads of departments in Malaka District. According to data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), Malaka District experiences low agricultural growth, with rice productivity in the area decreasing from 2020-2022 due to issues in the supply of rice seeds as well as other problems involving weeds, evaporation, soil temperature, and irrigation systems.

Dr Parmawati explained why organic mulch tape is an efficient substitute for plastic mulch which is considered environmentally unfriendly due to its inability to decompose. "The disadvantages of using plastic mulch are reduced plant growth and yields, increased pest attacks, greater microplastic contamination, waterlogging, loss of soil structure, and reduced activity of soil microorganisms," Parmawati said.

She further highlighted that they would be going to the district at the end of July where they would be working with the PT Widjaya Teknik Indonesia (Witech) factory to make mulch tape for 10 hectares of land. Moreover, they would also be lending a hand to the local community with organic mulch tape preparation, starting with the introduction of materials, chopping, making tape pulp, drying, and pressing.

Both the Solitair and the Zirkon rotary harrow will be available in series production from 2025. (Image source: LEMKEN)

The new mounted LEMKEN Solitair having a working width of 3-4 m, when mounted on the roller of the new generation of LEMKEN Zirkon MR rotary harrows, results in a powerful duo

The LEMKEN Solitair MR series features a 1,500 litre tank, which is suitable for fertiliser even in its basic configuration. The tank is optionally available with a 2,000-litre capacity, which can be split 60:40 on request for simultaneous application of several components. When the 200-litre MultiHub  is added to the tank, the Solitair takes efficacy and flexibility to new heights. This allows mixed crop sysems to be cultivated in a single pass. 

Seeds from the MultiHub are placed through the existing seed lines or through a baffle plate in front of or behind the harrows. The MultiHub offers the same number of width sections as the seed drill. Moreover, the MultiHub control is fully integrated into the user interface of the ISOBUS terminal as an additional seed line, making it very user-friendly. 

The Solitair MR is equipped with the maintenance-free OptiDisc coulter bar with row spacings of 12.5 or 15 cm and features parallelogram-guided double disc coulters and trailing depth control rollers for absolutely uniform field emergence. To achieve this, the coulter system is available in a hydraulic version (up to 70 kg coulter pressure) and a mechanical version (up to 45 kg coulter pressure). Both coulter pressure and seed depth can be adjusted independently of each other and do not affect each other. This is particularly useful in the increasingly popular cultivation of mixed crops. The correct placement depth for the different crops can be set by applying a separate drilling depth setting to each second row. Seeds are always placed at exactly the same depth, even at high forward speeds and in changing soils. The depth control roller then presses the seeds down to ensure rapid and even emergence.

The distributor heads ensure excellent transverse distribution. These are positioned directly above the coulter bar and do not require a seed return function. The new Solitair is equipped with two metering systems, with each of these supplying one distributor with seeds, so that even the basic configuration offers width section or half-width control. A hydraulic tramline mechanism can be added as an option. The LEMKEN iQblue Drill software supports the work in the field, for example by checking if tramline control is possible.

If customers choose the single or double shot version, the LEMKEN Solitair MR comes with four metering units for two width sections each. To ensure that drilling is sucessful and produces high yields, the seedbed must be prepared carefully and adapted to the individual conditions of the farm. In this case, a combination with a rotary harrow is often the best solution.

Following numerous field trials and measurements, the new LEMKEN Zirkon MR is now approved for tractors up to 240 hp, depending on the working width. Moreover, it can also be used in even more versatile applications. When mounted on the new LEMKEN Solitair, it results in a powerful duo. 

By ensuring that the working depth of the rotary harrow and the sowing depth pf the seed drill are not influenced by each other, the new mounting system makes it easier for customers to set up the machine to suit their needs. Moreover, the Zirkon also offers greater convenience with hydraulic adjustment of the levelling bar and working depth.

Both the Solitair and the Zirkon rotary harrow are available in limited quantities and will be available in series production from 2025.