ISHS Acta Horticulturae 399: Greenhouse Environment Control and Automation
TRANSPORTATION AND ROBOTICS FOR GREENHOUSE CROP PRODUCTION SYSTEMS |
| Authors: | G.A. Giacomelli, K.C. Ting |
| Keywords: | automation, culture, environment, systems, robotics, internal transport, greenhouse |
| Abstract:
Materials handling, crop transport and completion of labor tasks are necessary activities within all controlled environment plant production systems (CEPPS). Management of materials and resources for completion of the multitude of plant culture operations (e.g. potting, transplanting, harvesting, watering, etc) is required. Nearly all the operations require transport of materials or movement of labor. The proper design of automated systems integrating transportation and robotic capabilities can greatly enhance the efforts of the manager, and the overall production system performance. Machinery and equipment have been developed to help with many types of operations. These may range from mechanized processes (mechanization) to flexible automation processes (robotics), or they may be some combination of each. Effective application of these processes is essential for the economic viability of the greenhouse system. A procedure, known as ACE-based Systems Analysis, for evaluating the selection of transport and robotic systems within the overall greenhouse system design is being developed. All system components and processes will be classified into one of the three general topics of automation, culture or environment. System components and their relationships can then be examined to provide a rationale for the design and development of an efficient and profitable integrated greenhouse production system that minimizes environmental impact. This paper will begin consideration of the integration of individual subsystems related to transportation and robotics to achieve an efficient overall greenhouse crop production system. | |
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