P.PSH.1477 - LEAP 4 Beef Automated Cutting Systems – Scott pre-production module 1 prototypes
Learnings from the successful lamb boning automation initiative are now being leveraged to design beef automation modules.
| Project start date: | 15 September 2023 |
| Project end date: | 31 March 2025 |
| Publication date: | 02 October 2024 |
| Project status: | Completed |
| Livestock species: | Grain-fed Cattle, Grass-fed Cattle |
| Relevant regions: | National |
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Summary
The goal for this project is to develop stages of automation modules for use in beef boning rooms for Australasian processors. This will be based upon previous pre-production prototypes and will culminate in a demonstration event to industry that seeks feedback plus expressions of interests from processors for a future staged project.
Objectives
• Multiple stage development:
o Initially aiming to deploy a simple vision and cut path system to start with looking to find a cost-effective option that replicates human abilities.
o Further stages are to be based on cost and benefit of more advanced sensing/mechanics vs achievable accuracy improvements.
• Robotic approach to prove core concepts required to produce a production machine.
• In plant trials to prove concepts on actual product and quantities in a production environment to prove integration and considerations for production machine.
Key findings
• Both factory and site demonstrations were well received by processor JBS.
• CNN vision analysis provided better accuracy than traditional vision analysis.
Benefits to industry
Assuming the next stage development machine can improve on a manual cut product by 1mm for 0-rib product and 2mm for 2-rib product, this would result in a yield benefit of:
• $0.722 AUD per 0-rib striploin*
• $1.444 AUD per 2-rib striploin*
Using the above assumed benefits, the value of equipment utilising a 2-year payback would equate to: $991,744 AUD**
* This benefit is plant and commercial solution dependent.
** There may be further costs associated with equipment installation.
MLA action
This project represents a catalyst for MLA and AMPC to develop a clear joint plan that consolidates collective past learnings in the automated beef processing space and further allows Scott and industry to bring their long-standing expertise.
Future research
The results from stage 1 indicate less accuracy obtained than is typical from a manually cut product. Therefore, a stage 2 is proposed, to implement further sensing, enhance imitating the human operator, re-implement, train, and trial.
Objectives:
• Upgrading the sensing means on the Brooklyn stage 1 test system.
• Obtain the error from the ideal cut path data for both the manual and robotic system and report.
• Given the measured improvement versus the manual operation, propose a path to a commercial system.
More information
| Project manager: | Jack Cook |
| Contact email: | reports@mla.com.au |
| Primary researcher: | Scott Automation & Robotics Pty Ltd |
