Technological innovation for the viticultural industry

In this project our global program students examined the working practices of famers in the French viniculture industry. They ultimately developed a unique solution to problems related to pesticide application.

The team was made up of students from Kyoto Institute of Technology, Japan, and students from Design Factory Melbourne, who worked in close collaboration with the industry partner Yanmar from Osaka, Japan. DFM was identified as an ideal partner for this project due to Australia’s rich viniculture industry and for the design expertise needed. The solution was ultimately identified as implementable by Yanmar and has been taken further into R&D with the goal of commercialization.

2021 Commercialization Update: See Yanmar’s new product in the market here.

Nick
Industrial Design Swinburne University

Yosuke
Industrial Design
Kyoto Institute of Technology

Ourdia
Communication Design Swinburne University

Ruposh
Architecture
Kyoto Institute of Technology

Juan
Civil Engineering
Swinburne University

Natsumi
Graphic Design
Kyoto Institute of Technology

Kazutaka
Design Engineering Managment
Kyoto Institute of Technology

The client: Yanmar

Japanese engineering company Yanmar’s core business sits in the development of diesel engines, agricultural machinery, power generation, construction equipment and marine vessels. Recognising that the future is shifting to renewable technologies and to electric powered systems Yanmar are looking further into the complexities of their individual markets to identify new product opportunities in order to stay competitive.

Yanmar tasked the team with investigating the French viniculture industry. They believed that French vineyards have stayed more traditional and less mechanized than those globally. Yanmar saw an opportunity for a new market here and wanted to understand the sector better.

The Problem

The designers needed to develop a lightweight, maneuverable machine that can assist farmers in France to look after grapes in a manner that is consistent with their needs and cultural working practices.
They found that the problem went deeper than a technological solution. In order for the technology to be accepted by farmers the machine needed to address their needs including cost effectiveness, higher efficiency, lower environmental impact both on the farm and for the wider community.

Solution

The team identified a key concern for farmers and the environment was pesticide drift—when spraying vines a significant amount of the pesticide is caught on the winds, making the spraying inefficient, and spreading dangerous chemicals across the land and to the farmers themselves.
The team produced a lightweight maneuverable sprayer that used ground-breaking processes to apply pesticides in a manner that was faster, more effective, cost efficient and environmental. The machine, although developed for use in French vine-yards has global application.
The team also produced research outcomes related to maneuverability of machines in vineyards on steep slopes that was combined with other projects that Yanmar were working on. As well as concepts for software which tracks weather data and pesticide application.

Process

The team conducted extensive research with farmers at three separate sites. Through this process they uncovered two significant issues for the modern vineyards farmer: tractor safety and spraying efficiency. As their research progressed they began to focus their attention solely on crop spraying.

Focusing on crop-spraying meant validating the existing team’s sprayer concepts through analysis, prototyping, and advice from specialists—particularly on spray systems and fluid dynamics. In doing this the team developed strong relationships with farmers through a co-creative process of integrating, drawing, and prototyping with and alongside farmers to directly include them in the outcome.

The results of the research were incorporated in a single machine with mechanical, physical and digital, and performance properties identified as crucial needs for vineyard farmers.

User Needs:

Drivers/Problems:

The solution needed to consider the speed effectiveness and efficiency of spray systems for farmers. This would improve costs for farmers. Research identified that pesticides work best when they are applied from many directions. The size of the droplet is also a consideration in effective crop-spraying and is highly dependent on weather conditions such as wind speed and humidity. These considerations needed to be present in any design solution.

The team identified pesticide drift as a major issue for farmers in crop spraying. Sprayed pesticides become airborne and are a threat to human health and wildlife and ecosystems in agricultural and residential areas. They are particularly hazardous for farmers when spraying. There are additional emotional costs for farmers identified due to the growing social pressures to farm in a way that is more environmentally conscious.

Design details

The XS-310 incorporated all of these considerations into one design. The proof of concept prototype is an airtube sprayer that is both safer and more environmentally sustainable. It uses groundbreaking technology to collect and recycle stray pesticide particles using a centrifugal fan partnered with a wind curtain. The system isolates spray from the ground and the recycling of the spray dramatically reduces pesticide drift.
The XS-310 is more efficient at crop spraying as the system can achieve an effective coverage of the crops with one pass, whereas current systems require two. It is small and maneuverable, designed to be attached to a traditional tractor ensuring it will fit into current vineyard practices. The reduction in both pesticides used and spraying time address key issues for farmers.

An additional digital platform has been developed that maps where the sprayer has been within the vineyard. This allows farmers to record spray levels live, which collects data that is legally required for accountability.

The project resulted in a global patent being filed and the XS-310 has been taken into further research and development by Yanmar with plans to commercialise the technology.