Revolutionizing Farm Safety: The Development of a Robotic Hog Barn Washer
In the world of agricultural innovation, a significant leap has been made toward ensuring the health and safety of those working in swine production. Amidst the bustling backdrop of the recent Ontario Pork Congress in Stratford, a new piece of technology dubbed the EVO Cleaner was introduced by Jake Shoemaker, a technician from Tri-Mech, a company based in Drayton known for their advancements in pressure washing systems. This new technology, while impressive in its functionality, carries a back story deeply rooted in human health concerns—a narrative that began in Sweden.
The development of the EVO Cleaner, as Shoemaker explained, was driven primarily by the pressing need to combat health issues encountered by individuals involved in pork production. Workers in pig barns are routinely exposed to considerable amounts of organic dust and ammonia gases, an environment that can precipitate serious lung diseases, including bronchitis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). This reality prompted a quest for a solution that would not only streamline the cleaning process but also shield workers from these hazardous conditions.
The EVO Cleaner is an innovative robotic technology designed to traverse the various rooms and pens of a pig barn, eliminating the need for manual cleaning. The process begins with a technician manually guiding the robot through the barn’s layout using a joystick to program its computer system. This initial walkthrough includes setting parameters for each room, with special attention given to programming the first and last pens separately. After this setup, only the second pen in any given row requires programming, granted the subsequent pens mirror the first in size and shape. This thoughtful approach allows for a customized cleaning process, tailored to the specific architecture of any pig barn.
But what about barns that feature unconventional layouts or pen designs? Shoemaker unveiled a simple yet effective solution for these scenarios: metal markers. By strategically placing these metal markers at varied locations within the barn, any deviations from the standard pen arrangement can be easily programmed into the EVO Cleaner’s system, ensuring a thorough and efficient clean regardless of the barn’s structure.
The introduction of the EVO Cleaner represents a significant milestone in the field of agricultural technology. By mitigating the exposure to harmful organic substances and gases, this robotic barn washer not only promotes the welfare of farmworkers but it also exemplifies the kind of innovation that can arise from a deep understanding of the intersection between technology and human health. As more farms adopt this robotic solution, the future of agricultural work safety looks promising, paving the way for a healthier, more sustainable farming environment.
