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Development of a Smart Shearing Handpiece

Shearing handpieces have remained relatively unchanged since mechanisation. This investment will examine the opportunity to design smarter handpieces that incorporate sensors to de-risk and de-skill manual shearing with an initial focus on alerting the user when either the tail or the nose of the handpiece is lifting to reduce second cuts and skin cuts. This will contribute to improvements in productivity and animal welfare. The project will also enable the potential integration of robotic automation and the potential removal for the need for wall-mounted drive shafts increasing the flexibility of movement to the shearer.

Project date

18 Nov 2019-30 Jun 2020

Principal investigator

William Mitchell

Project funded by

Multiple industries
Sheep & lamb Wool

Australian Wool Innovation (AWI)

Australian Wool Innovation is a not-for-profit enterprise that conducts research, development and marketing along the worldwide supply chain for Australian …

Multiple industries
Sheep & lamb Wool
  • Location

    Australia

  • Organisation type

    Research funding body

Logo for Australian Wool Innovation (AWI)

Focus areas

Industries

Sustainabilities

Technology areas

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