Description du projet
La robotique et l’automatisation pour une transformation efficace de la viande
Le secteur de la viande est l’un des plus importants de l’agriculture européenne, regroupant agriculteurs, coopératives et abattoirs. L’un des principaux défis consiste à maintenir le niveau de qualité. C’est pourquoi l’automatisation est un facteur essentiel pour assurer la sécurité alimentaire recommandée par l’UE. Cependant, les systèmes de robotique et d’automatisation avancés sont coûteux, non flexibles et manquent de modularité et de robustesse, ce qui freine leur achat et leur application à grande échelle. Un nouveau concept pionnier d’automatisation développé par des scientifiques en Norvège et au Danemark, le Meat Factory Cell (MFC), est incapable de fonctionner de manière autonome. Le projet RoBUTCHER, financé par l’UE, a pour objectif de développer un MFC cognitif doté de propriétés d’autonomie élevées en utilisant des technologies robotiques de base fondées sur l’IA et la cognition. Le projet fournira aux petites et moyennes entreprises de transformation de la viande les outils nécessaires pour surmonter les obstacles techniques qui empêchent l’adoption de systèmes d’automatisation robotisés.
Objectif
Uptake of advanced robotics and automation in the Agri-Food sector, specifically in meat processing, has been stifled due to the perceived high cost as well as the lack of flexibility, robustness and scalability to suit different volumes, smaller in particular. This conflicts with recommendations that governments across Europe should encourage greater food system efficiency and security. Pioneers in Norway (NMBU/Animalia) and Denmark (DTI) have been working to address this issue and have created a new automation concept for the meat sector: the Meat Factory Cell (MFC). The MFC today is simple, relying upon the intelligence of human experts to complete complex tasks. However, meat processing plants are amongst the lowest quality working environments in Europe, making autonomy a must.
RoBUTCHER aims to develop a cognitive MFC, capable of autonomy. To achieve this, RoBUTCHER has the following underpinning objectives: (1) Assessment of social, legislative and best practise meat industry requirements; (2) Development of novel technology modules for autonomous cutting trajectory planning, and integration with cooperative human–robot interfaces; (3) Creation of enabling intelligent tools to evaluate the system, chiefly for cutting and handling; and (4) Industrial scale pilot of the cognitive MFC.
Core robotic technologies are integral to RoBUTCHER, where the main emphasis is AI and Cognition, but natural overlap exists to include Cooperative Human-Robot Interfaces and Cognitive Mechatronics. Today there are no suitable “off-the-shelf” solutions. The ambition for RoBUTCHER is to develop a system to TRL6, using existing MFC infrastructure within the Consortium as a catalyst for research and innovation. Successful delivery of the project will provide the robustness, flexibility and scalability that small and medium meat processors require to lower the technical barriers they face in adopting robotic automation, which would improve job quality and food security in Europe.
Champ scientifique
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringroboticscognitive robots
- social sciencessociologyindustrial relationsautomation
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringmechatronics
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencesnutrition
- natural scienceschemical sciencescatalysis
Mots‑clés
Programme(s)
Régime de financement
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinateur
1433 As
Norvège