Problem Statement:

Arecanut tree has to be climbed three times every year for the purpose of harvesting. Only skilled labours can do this, as the task is very risky. Suresh came up with the idea of a machine that could be helpful for climbing the arecanut tree. First he came up with a machine that worked on electricity and could carry a man with it. However the power supply was an issue, so he designed a petrol engine based automated arecanut climbing and harvesting machine.

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Detail:

The machine is powered by a 42cc petrol engine operated using a remote/mobile app. It consists of dumbbell shaped rubber-grip rollers, which are clamped on tree and their rolling motion along the tree trunk provides upward motion.The machine is self- adjusting forvarying diameter (100 to 203 mm) of the tree and can climb over dents or bumps in the surface of the tree. The device can remotely be put in forward, reverse, neutral and cutting mode. The rate of climb can be controlled with an accelerator and the device has been designed such that on full throttle, it can climb the tree (approx. 50-60 feet) in one min, perform cutting operation in 1 min and climb down the tree in another minute. It weighs approx. 28 kg and can work for about 3 hours in 1 litre of petrol. If at all the machine stops functioning while climbing up or down the tree, a rope connected to it will enables the user to bring it down without climbing the tree.

Knowledge Provider / Innovator: Suresh PV
Address: Amarambalam in Malappuram district
City: Malappuram
State: Kerala
PIN Code 679332
Website: https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2019/mar/18/sureshs-arecanut-climber-secures-national-innovation-foundations-prestigious-award-1952422.html#:~:text=The%20automated%20arecanut%20climber%20developed,around%200.5%20litres%20per%20hour.

Manufacturing Capacity: d) Licensing, e) Franchising
Photo Links:

• Automated Arecanut Climber https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmoVTwcfVEI
• Automated Arecanut Climbing and Harvesting Machine http://nif.org.in/upload/innovation/10th/927514-suresh-pv.pdf

Problem Scale: 1) India
Blog Link 5:

• Arecanut climber in Kerala bags national award for innovation
  https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/arecanut-climber-in-kerala-bags-national-award-for-innovatiorticle26559539.ece
• Inventions that change the countryside
  https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/inventions-that-change-the-countryside/article26556530.ece
• Suresh’s Arecanut-Climber secures National Innovation Foundation’s prestigious award
  https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2019/mar/18/sureshs-arecanut-climber-secures-national-innovation-foundations-prestigious-award-1952422.html

News Link 5:

• Design and Fabrication of Arecanut Tree Climbing and Spraying Machine
  http://article.sapub.org/10.5923.c.jmea.201601.17.html