Descrizione del progetto
Robotica e automazione per una lavorazione efficiente della carne
Il settore della carne è uno dei più importanti nell’agricoltura dell’UE e include agricoltori, cooperative agricole e mattatoi. Una delle principali sfide è mantenere la qualità. Pertanto, l’automazione è una questione chiave nel rispettare la sicurezza alimentare raccomandata dall’UE. Tuttavia, la robotica avanzata e i sistemi di automazione sono costosi, non flessibili, nonché privi di scalabilità e robustezza, impedendone l’acquisto e un’applicazione su larga scala. Un nuovo concetto pionieristico di automazione perfezionato dagli scienziati in Norvegia e Danimarca, la cellula di fabbrica della carne (Meat Factory Cell, MFC), non è autonomo. Il progetto RoBUTCHER, finanziato dall’UE, è inteso a sviluppare una MFC cognitiva con elevate proprietà di autonomia attraverso le principali tecnologie robotiche basate su IA e cognizione. Il progetto fornirà processori per la carne su piccola e media scala con strumenti per superare gli ostacoli tecnici che impediscono l’adozione dei sistemi di automazione robotica.
Obiettivo
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.
Campo scientifico
- 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
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinatore
1433 As
Norvegia