SLF Grape Harvester — MAE2250 Client Project

This portfolio page documents the MAE2250 deliverables for the SLF grape harvester design. It includes the required milestones, a clear table of contents with anchor links, and the final client report summary.

MAE2250 overall project page →

Project milestones

• Client Pitch — O3
• Functional Prototype — O5
• Client Report — Deliverable

Project context

This project is part of the MAE2250 semester-long design effort for a client brief from Cornell CALS Extension, E&J Gallo Winery, and National Grape. The goal was to develop a practical harvest system improvement that prevents spotted lanternfly contamination while remaining compatible with mechanical grape harvesters.

Client Pitch — O3

Problem statement

Spotted lanternflies (SLF) threaten grape harvest quality because even a few insects can contaminate grape slurry and make product unusable. Mechanical harvesters can ingest SLF along with grapes, so preventing insects from entering the machine is critical.

Proposed pitch solution

The recommended solution is a forward-mounted mechanical blower assembly that pushes air across the vine row before grapes are harvested. The airflow dislodges SLF from vines and keeps them ahead of the harvester intake, reducing contamination risk without using chemicals.

Why it works

• Targets the contamination point at the harvester intake.
• Avoids pesticide residue on grapes.
• Can be retrofitted onto existing harvesting equipment.
• Uses mechanical action instead of chemical repellents.

O3 deliverable

• client problem summary
• concept description and benefits
• risk assessment and next-step plan
• confirmation of a non-chemical, harvest-friendly approach

Functional Prototype — O5

Prototype focus

The O5 milestone tested the blower concept with a bench-top prototype and controlled airflow experiments.

How the prototype works

• A small fan and nozzle generate a directed air stream.
• Air is aimed at a grape cluster or vine analog ahead of the harvester intake.
• The airflow is tuned to detach SLF without dislodging grapes.
• The system is designed for simple mounting in front of the harvester head.

Prototype results

• Controlled airflow can move insects away from the intake path.
• Nozzle geometry and air velocity are key to preserving grape stability.
• Early testing emphasized a balance between detachment force and crop safety.

O5 deliverable

• physical bench-top proof-of-concept
• documented operational concept for a field-mounted device
• validation of the blower approach as the strongest prototype path

Client Report — Deliverable

Proposed solution and prototype

The proposed system is a forward-mounted mechanical blower that creates a continuous air curtain in front of the harvester head. The blower displaces spotted lanternflies from vines before grapes enter the harvesting mechanism. The design is intended to be low-profile, adjustable, and compatible with the existing harvest workflow.

The prototype work consisted of a bench-top blower rig, adjustable nozzle shapes, and airflow tuning to confirm that the concept could remove insects without disrupting grape clusters.

How it works / how it is used

• Mount the blower assembly ahead of the harvester intake.
• Activate the blower during harvest to sweep air across the vine row.
• The air stream detaches SLF and directs them away from the harvester path.
• The operator adjusts blower power and nozzle position based on canopy density and harvest speed.
• The system is designed to operate continuously during harvesting passes.

Conclusion

The forward-mounted blower system is the preferred solution because it directly addresses harvest contamination, removes reliance on chemical deterrents, and can be implemented with a practical prototype path. Bench-top testing showed that airflow can dislodge SLF while keeping grape clusters intact when the system is tuned correctly.

Recommendation for next steps

1. Build a full-scale harvester-mounted prototype.
2. Test the system in a vineyard row with real grape vines and canopy conditions.
3. Refine nozzle design and airflow control to ensure crop safety.
4. Confirm power and mounting requirements with the client.
5. Gather client and operator feedback for iterative improvement.

Supporting documents

• Client Report (PDF)
• Research Poster (PDF)

Both documents are available for reference, and the content above summarizes the key solution, prototype approach, conclusions, and next steps without requiring the PDFs to be opened.