Desenvolvimento de projeto e protótipo de um instrumento para colheita de frutos de árvores caulíferas do gênero Plinia (jabuticaba)

Abstract

Fruit growing plays an essential role in Brazil, valuing plant diversity, biodiversity and promoting economic development. A fundamental element of this practice involves the production of native fruits, such as jabuticaba, which is a fruit rich in nutrients and antioxidants, originally from the Atlantic Forest. However, the manual process of harvesting jabuticaba, carried out on tall trees that can reach 15 meters in height, exposes harvesters to significant risks. Faced with this situation, emerged the opportunity to develop an instrument that facilitates the harvesting of jabuticaba, seeking to reduce the risks and minimize the physical effort required. Using the methodology of Pahl et. al (2007), a detailed study of the characteristics of the jabuticaba tree and its fruit was carried out, as well as the harvest of jabuticaba and similar trees. This process made it possible to identify customer needs and support the definition of product specifications. With the information obtained, the stage of creation of conceptions was carried out. Ten conceptions were generated and, from a relative matrix, the one with the greatest potential for success was chosen, which harvests through the pressure difference. From this, the preliminary project was elaborated with the definition and detailing of the components. At this stage, the commercial components were determined and the other components, such as the stem and nozzle, were dimensioned. Subsequently, three proof-of-concept prototypes were built, using components found on the market. With them, it was possible to carry out tests related to the pressure difference, as well as the stability and accuracy of harvesting. The tests showed the operation of the proposed project, achieving the established objective.