1. Sweet Cherry Mechanical Harvest Technology Research at WSU Prof. Qin Zhang Center for Precision & Automated Agricultural Systems Washington State University 2012 International Mechanical Harvest Symposium

2. WSU CPAAS: An Overview The Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems (CPAAS) was established in 1999. Offer an integrated framework for automated and precision agriculture efforts at WSU. Currently put a strong emphasis on specialty crop related research, including mechanical harvest

3. CPAAS: Trans-disciplinary Research Information Sciences Economic Sciences Biological Sciences Growing: Land preparation Planting/transplanting Pruning Thinning Managing: Water management Weeds management Pest management Disease management Harvesting: Maturity Non-selective harvest Selective harvest Traceability Post-harvesting: Safety Quality Transporting Traceability Engineering Sciences

4. Challenges in Mechanical Harvest 1.Orchard System: Machine compatibility 2.Need for crop load uniformity 3.Range of orchard systems 4.Market size 5.Assist systems do not replace large numbers of employees 6.Capital investment required WSU CPAAS, collaborating closely with industry, is developing a roadmap to develop mechanized fruit harvest systems. The near future focus - will be on fruit removal from the tree and transport the removed fruits to the bin.

5. 4 dimensional3 dimensional2 dimensional Complex system need high degree of skill (4 th D) Wide range of size quality Simpler Improved quality Apply existing technology Simplest Ability to be market specific New and existing technologies

6. Mechanical-Assist Harvest DBR Conveyor Concepts LLC Oxbo International - Picker Technology Van Doran Sales

7. Future Cherry Production Systems A Total Systems Approach to Developing a Sustainable Stem-free Sweet Cherry Production, Processing and Marketing System - SCRI project 2009-02559 Project Directors: Matthew Whiting, Qin Zhang Washington State University

8. Mechanical Harvest of Stem-Free Cherry

10. Result of Mechanical Harvest

11. Fruit removal/retrieval: Collected Left on tree On ground 1219 lbs 124 lbs 132 lbs 1475 lbs 83% 8% 9% Mechanical Harvest Performances

12. Whats the Best Solutions?