Harvesting Sugarcane on Hillsides
Abstract |
Inspiration |
Method |
Result
Abstract
In developing countries today, a considerable part of sugarcane production is harvested by manual workers. They experience extreme environmental conditions and precarious working conditions that threaten their health in both short and long term. This project explores a solution for hillside plantations that currently cannot be harvested in a mechanised way.
Inspiration
The potential for development of infrastructure and working conditions around the sugarcane industry is key factor in finding a reliable and suitable source of renewable energy. This has been my motivation and main source of inspiration during the project.
Method
The research was conducted in collaboration with plantation managers and researchers in Brazil, Paraguay, Philippines and United States in order to find design opportunities and user-centred solutions that truly improve the working conditions of harvesters, and that contribute to the development of the industry.
Full-scale tests were performed in-house in order to gain a better understanding of the terrain and the proposed design solution. The design language of Husqvarna inspired the form development.
Result
The result is a small mechanical harvester that can operate safely in hillside plantations. It compensates for the angle of the terrain giving the operator good ergonomic working conditions. Current harvesters in this market segment are only capable of harvest sugarcane on one side of the machine, but this design solution, by using an innovative approach, is capable to harvest on both sides. These characteristics give this machine a unique value in the market.
This design challenges establish ideas of what to expect from a small harvester by building an interesting proposition for plantation owners while offering the machine operators a vast improvement in their working conditions.