Fresh Fruit Tracking System

FRUIT - 5379

Keywords sensors, fruit, tracking systems

Start Date: 15-OCT-90 / Duration: 27 months

[ contact / participants ]

Objectives and Approach

The objective of project FRUIT is to develop an integrated product-life tracking system for citrus fruit products. The system will track fruit from its selection at a packing station, through its subsequent transportation across national boundaries, to its consumer market destination.

The project aims to develop:

• a tracking system within the packing house
• a prototype sensor for the non-invasive sensing of gases and volatile substances relevant to fruit treatment
• a prototype card with drive and control functions, processing and storage capacity, and sensor integration
• a distributed database
• design requirements for converting the hardware into a smart-card using VLSI technology.

The system will be demonstrated in citrus fruit packing stations in Greece and Spain, within refrigerated transport units, and at receipt and display at the point of sale in the UK or other member states.

Exploitation

The main benefit of the system will be to provide vendors and consumers with information on the quality and life expectancy of the product.

CONTACT POINT

Mr S. Hoddell
BRISTOL POLYTECHNIC
Coldharbour Lane, Frenchay
UK - BRISTOL BS16 1QY
tel: + 44/ 272-656 261
fax: + 44/ 272-585 022

Participants

BRISTOL POLYTECHNIC - UK - C
FOMESA-FOOD MACHINERY ESPAÑOLA SA - E - P
TRADEMCO LTD - GR - P
SYNTAX FACTORY AUTOMATION - I - P
ROBOTEC LTD - UK - P

FRUIT - 5379, December 1993

please address enquiries to the ESPRIT Information Desk

html version of synopsis by Nick Cook