Preliminary Testing of a System for Evaluating Picker Efficiency in Tree Fruit

摘要

Herein we present a real-time monitoring system that can track and record individual picker efficiency during harvest of tree crops. It integrates a digital weighing scale, RFID reader/writer, RFID tags, computational unit, and a wearable datalogger housed in a protective enclosure attached to the picker's belt. As harvested fruit is dumped into a standard collection bin situated on the scale, the system reads simultaneously the picker's ID (RFID tag) and records the incremental weight of fruit. Weight data are transmitted wirelesslyto the picker's datalogger which displays, via LCD, the total weight of harvested fruit. The performance of the prototype system was evaluated during harvest of sweet cherries (Prunus avium L) and apples (Malus domesticaBorkh.). The mean harvest rate for manual harvest of 'Cowiche' sweet cherry trees trained to a planar, compact architecture was 0.80 kg/person/min. In addition, preliminary tests showed that harvesting with a mechanical-assist harvest system improved harvest rate in a 'Skeena' sweet cherry orchard trained to a Y-trellised system to 1.25 kg/person/min. In comparison, harvest rate of 'Fuji' apple trees trained to a moderate density central leader architecture and 'Braeburn'/'M9' apple trees trained to ahigh density tall spindle system was 3.58 kg/person/min and 5.61 kg/person/min, respectively.