Capabilities and potential of robotics

Abstract

The application of robotics has been successfully achieved in many industrial sectors dealing with well defined processes and products. Meat, fish and poultry accounts for a considerable portion of the food consumed worldwide, but their production does not easily lend itself to automatic methods. The main problems are due to the variability and flexibility of the products, as well as the concerns for hygiene, quality and consumer safety. Robotics is desirable as there are increasing difficulties with the manual procedures in food production. Some of the driving influences encouraging the development of robotics and automation in meat production stem from human contact with the product and, more importantly, the removal of people from hazardous work conditions. Production control and consistency in output, as well as increased productivity, are tangible reasons for using robots in this sector.