Technical and functional improvement of productivity monitor for sugarcane (SIMPROCANA)

• Grant number: 15/50622-3
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: December 01, 2017
• End date: August 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agricultural Engineering - Agricultural Machinery and Implements
• Agreement: FINEP - PIPE/PAPPE Grant
• Principal Investigator: Cleber Rinaldo Manzoni
• Grantee: Cleber Rinaldo Manzoni
• Company: Enalta Inovações Tecnológicas S/A
• City: São Carlos

Abstract

In recent years, there has been considerable increase in the total production of sugarcane in the Brazil, reaching the end of this season the amount of 655 million tons, with a total production area of approximately 9 million hectares. However, this increase in production is due only to increased planted area and not by productivity gains for harvested area (ton.ha-1). The great challenge of the sugarcane industry is to identify the causes of variation in the productivity of sugarcane crop in Brazil. Current research indicates two precursor technologies for monitoring and identification of the spatial variability of sugarcane production: one through productivity monitors operating directly in the harvesters; other remote monitoring through multispectral images to estimate biomass. Therefore, the proposed work aims to continue in the program PIPE FAPESP process n°2004/08777-5, through with improving technology of sugarcane productivity monitor. This enhancement technology will be directed to situations that still hinder its diffusion in the Brazilian market, maintaining its original features of robustness and accuracy. The issues identified for improvement of technology are automation of calibration and operating procedures; data transfer for remote communication; upgrading of equipment shipped to a "universal" platform; and replacement of the embedded operating system and updating your applications. As technology improved point, will develop predictive and preventive management of critical machine parts application, providing improved operational efficiency in harvester sugarcane. The technology generated in this work, will be an incremental innovation of current yield monitor technology, this way the improvements and proposed improvements will bring competitive advantages compared to market competition or other technologies. Especially in operating efficiency characteristics, connectivity and accuracy, and this solution is offered in more attractive commercial conditions. (AU)