AMLIGHT

Development of an Automatic harvesting system for green asparagus with stalk detection in Ambient Light

Coordinatore	STRAUSS VERPACKUNGSMASCHINEN GMBH    more  Organization address address: FELIX WANKEL STRASSE 24 city: BUXTEHUDE postcode: 21614 contact info Titolo: Mr. Nome: Jörn Cognome: Strauß Email: send email Telefono: +49 4161 74020
Nazionalità Coordinatore	Germany [DE]
Totale costo	1˙394˙580 €
EC contributo	1˙036˙000 €
Programma	FP7-SME Specific Programme "Capacities": Research for the benefit of SMEs
Code Call	FP7-SME-2012
Funding Scheme	BSG-SME
Anno di inizio	2012
Periodo (anno-mese-giorno)	2012-11-01   -   2014-10-31

 Partecipanti

#	participant	country	role	EC contrib. [€]
1	STRAUSS VERPACKUNGSMASCHINEN GMBH  Organization address address: FELIX WANKEL STRASSE 24 city: BUXTEHUDE postcode: 21614 contact info Titolo: Mr. Nome: Jörn Cognome: Strauß Email: send email Telefono: +49 4161 74020	DE (BUXTEHUDE)	coordinator	444˙340.00
2	IMIX VISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS BV  Organization address address: VLIJTSEWEG 192 city: APELDOORN postcode: 7317 AM contact info Titolo: Mr. Nome: Fred Cognome: Hugen Email: send email Telefono: +31 55 5343020	NL (APELDOORN)	participant	370˙140.00
3	AGRAR MAGNICE SP ZOO  Organization address address: UL. PARKOWA 1 MAGNICE city: KOBIERZYCE postcode: 55-040 contact info Titolo: Mr. Nome: Zbigniew Cognome: Wojciechowski Email: send email Telefono: +48 601516221	PL (KOBIERZYCE)	participant	77˙300.00
4	C.WRIGHT & SON GEDNEY LTD  Organization address address: WHITEHOUSE FARM GEDNEY DYKE city: SPALDING postcode: PE12 OAJ contact info Titolo: Mr. Nome: Adam Cognome: Cunnington Email: send email Telefono: +44 7970 672123 Fax: +44 1406 365222	UK (SPALDING)	participant	75˙280.00
5	HANS-JUERGEN WERNER  Organization address address: HAUPTSTRASSE 9 city: DEINSTE postcode: 21717 contact info Titolo: Mr. Nome: Hans-Jürgen Cognome: Werner Email: send email Telefono: +49 4149 934840 Fax: +49 4149 9348420	DE (DEINSTE)	participant	49˙740.00
6	CENTIV GMBH  Organization address address: Villinger Weg 10 city: Stuhr postcode: 28816 contact info Titolo: Mr. Nome: Malte Cognome: Bethke Email: send email Telefono: +49 421 9601392 Fax: +49 421 9601 399	DE (Stuhr)	participant	19˙200.00
7	PROYECTOS Y FABRICACION ELECTRONICA SA  Organization address address: PASEO MIKELETEGI 69 city: SAN SEBASTIAN postcode: 20009 contact info Titolo: Mr. Nome: Francisco Cognome: Azpiroz Email: send email Telefono: 34943458075 Fax: 34943445701	ES (SAN SEBASTIAN)	participant	0.00
8	UNIVERSITAET BREMEN  Organization address address: Bibliothekstrasse 1 city: BREMEN postcode: 28359 contact info Titolo: Ms. Nome: Daniela Cognome: Rippe Email: send email Telefono: +49 421 21860553 Fax: +49 421 2189860553	DE (BREMEN)	participant	0.00

Mappa

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The main problem of harvesting green asparagus is the great need of seasonal workers. Usually between 1.5 and 2.5 workers are needed per ha. The high labour costs and unsatisfying working conditions have created over the last four decades the demand for a partial mechanization of the harvesting process. The increasing labour costs and the lack of in time labour supply have forced the asparagus farmers to optimize the harvesting process and to introduce harvesting aids. Several types of machines for the support of manual harvesting are available. However, all approaches towards fully automatically harvesting have failed so far, mainly for the following reasons: a) None of the currently available harvesters approach the yield and quality of hand harvesting, because of the aggressive harvest mechanization b) Damage to emerging spears with its immediate negative effect on yield and/or lack of profitability has slowed or stopped further experimentation or commercialization The AmLight project will overcome the current problems of automatically harvesting by implementing the following objectives: • Research & development of the AmLight detection system • Research & development of a harvesting mechanism • Research & Development of a self-driven carrier unit • Research & Development of a control program'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Although asparagus is a popular vegetable, it is also a labour-intensive and thus costly one to harvest. Machines could solve the dilemma, but so far humans have proven better harvesters.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Popular because it is full of nutrients and low in calories, Europe's green asparagus is a major crop. Asparagus is also a major physical challenge for field workers harvesting it by hand, and a major expense for farmers paying for this painstaking labour. And yet, mechanised harvesting technology that matches human harvesters' yields and accuracy remains elusive.

An EU-funded consortium has resolved to address the issue through the http://www.amlight.eu (AMLIGHT) project. To date, AMLIGHT has consulted with three asparagus farmers in order to determine end-user needs and field-based limitations. Using specifications developed collaboratively with these farmers, researchers have already field-tested two components of a mechanised harvesting unit.

The first is an innovation the asparagus industry has long-awaited. AMLIGHT researchers successfully developed a harvesting tool capable of holding and cutting an asparagus stalk without damaging the plant and immature stalks. Although at this stage the tool is hand-held, it will eventually be integrated into a fully automated unit.

In another noteworthy advancement, AMLIGHT is designing a camera able to detect mature asparagus stalks in ambient light. Using cameras operating in stereo, the prototype has been calibrated and is undergoing field trials.

Remaining components of the AMLIGHT harvesting machine are still in preliminary development. Researchers are currently working on a carrier unit, and will also have to design, test and refine software to control the entire machine. AMLIGHT intends to test the completed prototype under farm conditions during the 2014 harvest season.

The innovative solution AMLIGHT is developing is an example of what can be achieved through participatory research. A successful AMLIGHT autonomous harvesting machine would reduce labour costs and thereby help European asparagus farmers remain competitive.