Confirmation of Candidature - Candidate : Leslie Perkins

Recent technological advances have much to offer pineapple harvesting Investigations.  This project will research: the impact of crop density on machine design; sensing for fruit detection, localization and selection in dense foliage; detachment and capture of fruit; conveying, weighing and counting each fruit; recording position of each fruit's origin with GPS; fruit conveyancing to a collection bin; inspection and storage trials for quality conformity to commercial specifications.  In the light of an extensive literature review, techniques will be devised, modelled and field-tested in a farm setting, against current best practices.   Harvest outcomes will be analysed and the first pineapple yield maps produced.  Machine demonstrations and trial outcomes will be exhibited to growers via field days; conferences; and journals to promote its economic benefits.

For more information, please email the Graduate Research School or phone 0746 311088.