Automated Washing of Swine Transport Vehicles Moves Closer to Reality

Dr. Terry Fonstad with the College of Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan, says Automated Swine Transport Washing Systems have proved effective and the next step will be to reduce the amount of labour involved

by Bruce Cochrane – FarmScape Online

“We’re pretty sure it will work but it takes three people,” Fonstad told FarmScape Online. “You’ve got one person running the nozzle, being the articulator, with two people handling the hose. With an automation system those three positions would become a little robot arm that would run the hose that’s remotely operated.”

Scientists and engineers working to automate the washing of swine transportation equipment are preparing to take their effort to the next level.

“Biosecurity is still the way to control disease”

 

“You’ve got all of these things that take three or four people to run that could very well be automated. But I don’t see us going to a fully automated system with no one watching,” he added. “I think the next step would be to have a hose carrier with an articulating arm, with digital recognition of corners and where you’re washing, but have somebody remotely operating much like mining equipment with the controls around your neck. I think that would be the next thing; avoiding to have workers going into the truck but still have human eyes on it.”

Researchers working on behalf of Swine Innovation Porc have modified technology used in excavation which combines high pressure hot water and a vacuum system to wash swine transport equipment. The goal is to reduce the time and the amount of water needed to clean swine transportation equipment in preparation for disinfection.

“The next round of proposals that would be out if the funders and the industry chooses, would be a three year program to get the system to the point where somebody could stand outside the truck and run this thing and then implement that at a commercial level.”

Dr. Fonstad says this is a small part of the big picture. He added biosecurity is still the way to control disease and engineers are just trying to add one more level of security to it.