After months of development and a year of beta-testing, Croptracker announced April 19 the release of its Overhead Bin Scanning system for Harvest Quality Vision (HQV). Built concurrently with its recently released HQV 3.0, the overhead bin system allows packers to know what is coming into the pack shed before the fruit even comes off the truck.
While fruit is in the queue, plans can be made to get it on the packing line, rather than trying to figure out what is coming down the line at high speeds. Large growers can also use this system to know what exactly has left the farm.
The overhead scanning system can handle the rigors of a transportation corridor and function at peak efficiency day in and day out. This system is capable of scanning over 4,800 apples or pears within 30 seconds with a 98% accuracy. This first build also incorporates automatic detection of trucks entering the scanning corridor without any human input. It is also flexible enough to be built upon one worker activating the start and stop of a scan at a lower price point.
This entire system was designed, developed and built by Croptracker in partnership with the Two-a-Day Group in the Elgin district of Western Cape, South Africa. Minimizing labor and skill requirements, HQV overhead scanning allows packers to overcome logistical challenges and to continue producing at high efficiencies. The Two-a-Day Group is well informed about the fruits they receive before it is time to make important logistical decisions about storage and sales. They are also able to inform the growers of what they, the packer, received at the front gates and provide detailed imagery back to their suppliers.
Croptracker believes this scanning platform can be used to improve efficiency, increase productivity and knowledge for packing houses that receive large quantities of fruit in short periods of time.
