Application of Embedded Systems for Automation of the Optronic Bamboo Processor (POB)

• Grant number: 22/09817-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2022
• End date: March 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agricultural Engineering - Agricultural Machinery and Implements
• Principal Investigator: Daniel Albiero
• Grantee: João Pedro de Araújo Schmidt Simões
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Agrícola (FEAGRI). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

With the massive growth of the world's population, the Earth's limited natural resources have been a constant concern for human beings, generating problems such as hunger, which affects millions of people every day. In this context, there is a need to search for alternative food sources, in order to meet food needs on a large scale. An alternative plant food source is bamboo, which is rich in fiber and starch. However, certain non-trivial technical-scientific challenges, such as the absence of adequate automated mechanical systems that, while maintaining industry standards, carry out the harvesting and processing of bamboo, object to the use of this raw material in large quantities for food production. This project aims to develop ways to automate the machine under development in the Fapesp Project 2019/06078-8 "Optronic Bamboo Processor (POB)", which plans, through robotics, the production and supply of bamboo flour to the food industry, from in accordance with technological and sanitary protocols. It is assumed, then, that it is possible, through Control and Automation Engineering, to build embedded systems that will allow the machine's processes of sectioning and crushing young bamboo stalks to work automatically, making decisions based on on the physical characteristics of bamboo. Furthermore, through Internet of Things concepts, the implementation of an online monitoring system of the data collected by the embedded systems is planned. The objective of this project is, therefore, the technological development of automated systems, through in-depth scientific study to overcome the proposed challenges.