Modelling & Mechatronics in Horticulture

Australian horticulture has always had to be innovative to reach distant, but profitable export markets. In the wine industry this has led to spectacular export growth. However, low priced competition from Chile and South Africa at the same price points in the marketing mix results in lower profit. To overcome this competition the industry needs to reduce the labour input component of the production of each bottle of wine. To this end collaborative research with the Department of Electrical Engineering has been advanced with the aim of producing a prototype automatic vine pruner.

• Mechanical Pruning of Vines - Mr Bob Barrett