Human and Animal Factors Engineering Laboratory
המעבדה להנדסת גורמי אנוש ובעלי-חיים בחקלאות
Human Factors Engineering
Mechanised Apple Harvest Platforms
Development of apple harvesting protocol using mechanized platforms for increasing yields and reducing damage in the apple industry
Increasing labor costs and decreasing availability of workers constitute one of the major challenges of apple production, in particular during harvest time. Mechanical harvest platforms' feasibility and efficiency have not been proven. The study aims to identify the factors affecting outputs and quality and to introduce operational and mechanical solutions to improve work efficiency and fruit quality.
Lab Members:
Nadav Halali - Tel-Aviv University
Partners:
Eyal Yunai - Bereshit
Omer Krane - NA R&D
Amir Halachmi - NA R&D
Apple distribution in boxed containers
The Unique rectangular shape of boxed containers in Israel causes an uneven distribution of the apples in the container, unloaded from the main conveyor of the platform, and probably significant fruit damage. The problem unveils an engineering challenge answered through a real-life 3D simulation and the development and design of a suitable apple scattering mechanism.
Lab Members:
Nadav Halali - Tel-Aviv University
Partners:
Liad Reshef - Volcani Center, Institute of Agricultural Engineering
Conveyer belt re-design
In the existing platforms, the conveyor belt is located next to the picker while the tree is in front of him; So in order to place the fruit on the conveyor, the worker should turn towards it. This rotation movement means a waste of time for placing the fruit and has a potential for sustained physical damage to the Musculoskeletal system.
The project aim is to reduce the range of motion and eliminate the picker’s turning movements required today, by adding another conveyor for each picker. The unit will simulate the traditional way of placing the fruit in a basket and will transfer the fruit to the picker side conveyor and from there- all the way to the central tank.
A full design was carried out for the end unit, a BOM for purchasing and manufacturing was written, a drawing portfolio was produced and a cost evaluation was made.
From the estimates and calculations made, the use of the end unit will increase the harvesting output by up to 24% of the output today.
Lab Members:
Maya Shaanan - Ben-Gurion University
Partners:
Liad Reshef - Volcani Center, Institute of Agricultural Engineering
