Dr Naoum Tsolakis
Principal Investigator, Assistant Professor at International Hellenic University, Department of Supply Chain Management | SYNERGIE: “Human-Robot Synergetic Logistics for High Value Crops” with Dr Eirini Aivazidou (Senior Researcher, Assistant Professor at International Hellenic University, Department of Industrial Engineering and Management)
Naoum Τsolakis
SYNERGIE realized a prototype human-robot knowledge-based synergistic mechanization system.
High production costs in harvesting and handling operations, along with farmer’s well-being and limited workers’ availability, constitute key challenges in agriculture. Amid the digitalization era and motivated by the need to support labor-intensive operations in agricultural production systems, Naoum Tsolakis and Eirini Aivazidou conducted novel research within the project “Human-Robot Synergetic Logistics for High Value Crops” (acronym: SYNERGIE). The project was executed at the Institute for Bio-Economy and Agri-Technology (iBO) of the Centre for Research and Technology – Hellas (CERTH).
The objective of SYNERGIE was to develop a knowledge-based human-robot synergistic system for high-value crops’ operations, including outdoor harvesting and in-door storage, to achieve overall improved efficiency in agri-field logistics. The research was performed along two axes with the aim to: (i) improve human-machine synergy by introducing augmentation technologies to support machine’s situation awareness, including workers’ activities, and (ii) increase system efficiency by optimizing information-based operations’ planning.
In this regard, SYNERGIE realized a prototype human-robot knowledge-based synergistic mechanization system that consists of the physical sub-system (i.e., wearables, robotic fleet) and the information sub-system (i.e., information system enabling activity recognition and routing algorithms). The developed system optimizes orchard harvesting and high-quality produce storage, offering an added value that enhances efficiency and competitiveness.
The vision of the involved researchers refers to the creation of a paradigm of human-robot logistics synergy in intensive production systems, where operational links in production and supply chain are considered as emerging areas of human-robot synergetic approaches.
