Mushroom Picking Automation Prototype Project

Mushroom Picking Automation Prototype Project



About the Project

This project aimed to automate the labor-intensive process of harvesting white button mushrooms by developing a prototype robotic solution. Goals included understanding mushroom environmental and bruising characteristics, collecting dynamic picking data, and designing a robotic system with custom end-of-arm tooling and a vision system.

Project Overview

  • 3 Researchers
  • 8 Student Researchers
  • Areas of Expertise: Electromechanical Engineering Technology – Robotics

Technologies:

  • Vision System
  • Specialty Data Collection Glove and Motion Analysis Tools
  • 3D Printing
  • Finite Element Simulation Model

Key components involved a collaborative robot with custom tooling, a test bed for validation, and various 3D-printed compliant gripper tips. Preliminary durability tests and simulations refined the design. Additionally, a standalone mushroom stem slicer had been designed and tested, potentially enhancing packaging and material handling strategies.

Key Innovations

  • Vision System: An integrated vision system to identify and locate mushrooms, ensuring they are picked at the optimal stage of ripeness.
  • 3D Printing for Rapid Prototyping: Enabled on-demand production of gripper components, reducing costs and eliminating issues related to mold design and inventory management.
  • Finite Element Simulation: Used to rapidly test and optimize new designs in a virtual environment, speeding up the development process.

Impact & Benefits

  • Labor Efficiency: The automation of mushroom picking addressed the labor-intensive nature of the task, reducing the need for manual labor.
  • Increased Productivity: The robotic system works continuously, increasing the efficiency of mushroom harvesting and ensuring peak-quality mushrooms.
  • Sustainability: Automating mushroom picking supports sustainable agricultural practices by improving productivity and reducing labor costs.
  • Commercial Viability: The project’s advancements in robotic mushroom harvesting provide a scalable solution for mushroom farms.

Related Programs

#ElectromechanicalEngineering #MechanicalEngineeringTechnology  #ComputerSystemsTechnology

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