New harvester machine for traditional olive orchards: agronomic and industrial engineering

The widespread traditional olive orchards have evolved without taking into count their mechanization, having serious problem in their profitability. It is necessary the technification of this sector due to the lack of innovation, particularly in machinery, so synergies between industrial and agronomic sector are required. The develop of a harvester may suppose a key factor in this process by using lateral canopy shakers. It is proposed to design a new prototype to harvest traditional trees with a new circular path around them to achieve the whole tree in a same path, by a collaborative procedure between engineers, researcher, farmers and manufactures. The tree geometries have been studied and a pruning method has been proposed to reduce canopy irregularities and enhance outer canopy production. It has been studied the iteration between canopy shakers and the traditional trees feasible to detach and catch fruit, but requiring a new design. Then, it has been developed a specific device for removing fruit for their integration in a new harvester. Field test shown the suitability for integral harvesting although it is required a long process of enhancing.