TREND IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OIL PALM FRUIT HARVESTING TECHNOLOGIES IN MALAYSIA

Authors

  • Sharence Nai Sowat Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Wan Ishak Wan Ismail Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Muhammad Razif Mahadi Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Siti Khairunniza Bejo Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Muhamad Saufi Mohd Kassim Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11113/jt.v80.11298

Keywords:

Oil palms fresh fruit bunches, manual harvesting, harvesting machines, tree climbing robots, mechanization in harvesting

Abstract

Harvesting oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB) on tall oil palm trees is a laborious and hazardous task. Lately, with the escalating problem of labor shortage, the exigent demand to mechanize the harvesting task cannot be overlooked. Over the years, many harvesting methods and technologies have been used and developed to increase the harvesting productivity. This paper reviews the conventional manual harvesting using manual labor, mechanization of harvesting task using harvesting machines as well as research on climbing robots for harvesting FFB in Malaysia. In essence, it provides an overview of the trend in the development of harvesting technologies in Malaysia. Realizing the potential of climbing robots for harvesting, the morphological structures and physical characteristics of oil palm trunks in its natural surroundings are examined closely to identify the challenges in the climbing and harvesting processes. Next, a set of design criteria is introduced to overcome those challenges. In addition, several mechanisms are proposed which play integral parts in enhancing the climbing and harvesting tasks. 

Author Biographies

  • Sharence Nai Sowat, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
    Dr.
  • Wan Ishak Wan Ismail, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
    Professor. Ir. Dr.
  • Siti Khairunniza Bejo, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
    Assoc. Prof.
  • Muhamad Saufi Mohd Kassim, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
    Dr.

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Published

2018-01-09

Issue

Vol. 80 No. 2: March 2018

Section

Science and Engineering

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Copyright of articles that appear in Jurnal Teknologi belongs exclusively to Penerbit Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (Penerbit UTM Press). This copyright covers the rights to reproduce the article, including reprints, electronic reproductions, or any other reproductions of similar nature.

How to Cite

TREND IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OIL PALM FRUIT HARVESTING TECHNOLOGIES IN MALAYSIA. (2018). Jurnal Teknologi (Sciences & Engineering), 80(2). https://doi.org/10.11113/jt.v80.11298