Innovative Selective Harvesting Technology for Cauliflower: A Design Approach using Plant Characteristics

Abstract

Traditional manual harvesting methods for cauliflower are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and costly, and non-selective harvesting often leads to significant yield losses due to immature curds being harvested. To address these challenges, there is growing interest in developing selective cauliflower harvesters that can accurately identify and harvest mature and healthy cauliflower heads while minimizing damage and waste. This research paper focuses on the determination of design parameters for an efficient and adaptive selective cauliflower harvester based on a comprehensive understanding of the physical and mechanical properties of cauliflower plants. Two cauliflower varieties, Pusa Meghna, and Pusa Sharad, were studied to measure various physical properties such as plant width, height, curd diameter, curd depth, stalk diameter, stalk length, and stalk moisture content. Additionally, cutting force was measured to design the cutting unit of the harvester. The results revealed that design parameters, including frame height, width, length, cutter length, and cutter height, should be tailored to the specific physical properties of cauliflower plants to optimize the selective harvesting process. This research contributes valuable insights to the advancement of agricultural robotics and engineering, laying the groundwork for the development of sophisticated selective cauliflower harvesters.