Award details

Robotic handling of fragile biological objects

Reference	BBS/E/S/00000103
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Mr John Reed
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Silsoe Research Institute
Department	Silsoe Research Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	123,692
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/1997
End date	31/03/1998
Duration	12 months

Abstract

Automation of many labour intensive operations in the agri- bio industries has been prevented by the delicate nature and variability of the biological objects to be handled. This project aims to provide generic techniques for analysis, design and control of robotic systems for handling variable biological objects. The key areas of end-effector design, manipulator control and integration of robotics in biological systems are addressed. A general finite element contact model for studying the interaction between robot end- effectors and fragile biological objects is being developed using mushrooms as an initial exemplar. In combination with earlier research funded by MAFF and parallel funds from the EC the problems of applying robotics to harvesting mushrooms is being used to develop techniques for location, selection, picking, transfer and conveyance of a typical delicate product. A new robot system for high speed mushroom harvesting and trimming, unconstrained by current growing systems, is being devised for installation and evaluation at HRI Wellesbourne.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Agri-food (AF)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

I accept the terms and conditions of use (opens in new window)

export PDF file

back to list new search