Preliminary design of an anthropomorphic cutting and potting system for automated agriculture

Abstract

The study presented is part of the Rural Development Programme of the Tuscany Region and the European Union: the objectives are to limit the number of manual operations, to enhance technological transfer operations, to share best practices and to reduce the carbon footprint of the Scindapsus cuttings production chain. In this context, the work presents the approach to a preliminary design of an anthropomorphic system for automated cutting and potting of cuttings. For a better understanding of the current procedures and solutions, a critical analysis of the State of the Art of agricultural automation processes available in the literature was carried out. This study was developed in parallel with market research to identify the custom components to be produced to make a choice consistent with the technical specifications. The design has dealt with the system for handling and preparing the cuttings through panels and conveyor belts, starting from the needs defined in the initial phase. The analysis considered, both at a mechanical and functional level (evaluation of times and methods), the layout of production space with a high degree of automation for cutting and potting cuttings, with particular attention to the issues of the workplace safety and the maintainability of the elements: the best configuration of resources, personnel and equipment were designed through a what-if scenario analysis populated by deterministic and stochastic events.