INVESTIGATION 2012
PHASE TWO
TITLE
DEVELOPMENT OF A PROTOTYPE DISPENSER TO REDUCE POLLUTION, CONSERVE AND INVENTORY FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
PROJECT TOPIC: Robotics
CATEGORY: draft technological and social innovation
PROJECT SUMMARY
The group Robolution Loyola Team, continuing research, 2011, proposes the construction of an automated system that reduces pollution, handling and preserve its quality and longevity in fruit and vegetables to be used in different outlets, with the to protect the health of consumers.
The system consists of an acrylic container which protects the fruit of microorganisms found in the environment, electronic balance with serial communication that allows the owner to monitor the amount of product present in the device, a control system RH which aims to maintain an ideal humidity inside the container, so take care of the quality and longevity of fruit. The system also has a pollution prevention mechanism that promotes automated mandatory use of antibacterial gel. All information from the device communicates through a wireless network to a central computer xbee use of the owner, which has a graphical interface designed in LabView, and allows you to view product information and redirect it to other computers. For the consumer, the device also has useful information about the product, such as nutrients or special care to extend the life of these, the user can access it through a QR code that links it to a website's own product, and can be viewed on mobile devices and Tablets with Android OS.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Background:
The project began in 2011, with a fairly ambitious proposal Legumbrería Domótica, data were taken through direct observation in different outlets of fruits and vegetables, based on these data we developed a automated system in acrylic protection of fruits and vegetables exposed to atmosphere, electronic balance with serial communication allowing to know the weight of food, an automated UV decontamination controlled based on Motorola microcontroller, and an interface designed in LabView graphical showing these nutrition facts.
Robert E in their manual commercial storage of fruits, vegetables and florist and nursery stocks, presents a study on the conditions for successful storage of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Brian R. and his team proposed a system of elimination of pathogens using ultraviolet energy. Tested only in red apples, lettuce and tomatoes.
The Agricultural Research Service (ARS, in the acronym) of Pennsylvania study a new system for sanitizing fruits and vegetables can reduce the presence of bacteria on the surface of these products.
The food technologist Gerald M. Sapers and microbiologist Bassam A. Annous, say the new system, which is under development, aims to improve the conventional methods to clean fruits and vegetables and to develop new processes that remove or inactivate human pathogens associated with vegetables. Experts working in the Research Unit of Intervention Technologies for Safe Food, have been based on the use of chlorine and other sanitizers can reduce microbial levels without penetrating the skin slices of fruits and vegetables .
These processes are based on the application, within a tank at different temperatures, hydrogen peroxide and hot water in apples. When the temperature reached has exceeded 60 ° C has been observed a fade fruit. This process, based on the application of elevated temperatures is completed with other experimental methods. Among others, is the steam treatment, the application of sanitizing solutions in a vacuum treatment inoculated apples and other fruits and vegetables with antifungal and vapors using a polishing abrasive paste pathogens of fruits and vegetables.
The new research, recently presented at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society, wash fruits and vegetables only, even using disinfectants or bleach drops in some cases may not be enough. For that reason being tested with an alternative treatment based on irradiation.
Justification of the Study:
Proper management that gives fruits in a business where they are traded depends the quality, freshness and hygiene product that exhibits when sold, that quality can be affected by various factors such as improper handling by business personnel or consumers, and storage by the incorrect distribution, or by the time the fruit leads to the point of sale.
The Mexican Commission for Cooperation with Central America in the Manual Storage and Transport of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables presents the risks they are exposed fruits and vegetables: bilógicos, chemists and physicists. It also shows the norms and regulations that govern the entire process of fruits from harvest to the point of sale.
In Colombia everything related to production, processing, transportation, storage and marketing of fruit and vegetables is regulated by de1984 14,712 resolution MOH also by Decree 3075 of 1997 issued by the President of the Republic of Colombia in which regulates the procedures for cleaning and disinfection should meet the particular needs of the process and the product in question, but by 60% these rules are followed up to the outlets where they are exposed to pollution environment.
To verify the above noted equipment Robolution pollution they are exposed to fruits and vegetables in different types of outlets, finding alarming results because a product is handled by customers, from 7 to 9 times before buying. Therefore, this fruit can accumulate on the surface, human waste, toxic or pathogenic microbial sources, which cause deterioration of quality, can reduce shelf life and thus generate consumer illness. Furthermore environments were not always the most suitable and consumers are not aware of freshness thereof.
The "Store Automation fruits and vegetables," born of the need to preserve the quality of fruits and vegetables and to prevent diseases caused by poor handling of them. The students began to develop proposals, including the most viable and innovative was initiated with the development of an automated system capable of combating and reducing contamination of fruits by pathogens, control relative humidity and temperature, weigh and present products its nutritional properties.
Initiated development of this project in the context of the "FIRST Lego League" (FLL), an international competition sponsored by the FIRST organization, its acronym "For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology" and other sponsors such as National Instruments, Lego, NASA, among others.
It considers innovation posed by the project is an important development, not only because it encourages creativity, teamwork, skill development and technological skills and the drive to build automated mechanisms that serve to improve conditions in the handling of fruit, but also because it has a great social impact to protect the health of consumers.
- Formulation of the problem:
What automated system would reduce pollution, conserve and inventory fruits and vegetables, to benefit the health of consumers and boost technological development in different outlets?