Acoustics applied in the development of equipment for precision agriculture: Coffee handling and harvesting

• Published in: Computers and electronics in agriculture 2022-07, Vol.198, p.106981, Article 106981
• Main Authors: Furriel, Geovanne P., Furriel, Brunna C.R.S., Coimbra, Antônio P., Calixto, Wesley P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acoustic; Agriculture; Coffee; Similitude; Simulation
• ISSN: 0168-1699
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compag.2022.106981

•Development of data acquisition system to obtain the Thiele-Small and directivity parameters.•Similitude techniques to design and evaluate acoustically based agricultural equipment.•Sound pressure for agriculture pulverization with drift reduction and increase in leaf coverage.•Acoustically induced vibration applied in the development of selective harvest equipment; This work presents a methodology for developing two types of equipment for precision agriculture applied in coffee handling and harvesting, based on acoustic techniques. The proposed methodology uses the similitude method to simulate induced vibration and the direction of sound pressure fields. After analyzing the scale reduction model, a prototype is built in real dimensions to validate the proposed system. Two acoustic induction systems are evaluated: (i) application of phytosanitary products and (ii) selective harvesting of fruits. In applying a phytosanitary product, there is a drift reduction and increase in leaf coverage by approximately 44.97%. In selective harvesting, the proposed method is analyzed, and approximately 40% of the fruits in the appropriate ripening stage were harvested. The presented acoustic techniques applied to agriculture are promising for developing equipment in precision coffee handling and harvesting. The results obtained indicate that using acoustic techniques in the harvest promotes the reduction of the inherent wear of the harvest in the plants.