Applications and requirements of industrial robots in meat processing

Abstract

Many tasks in the meat processing industry involve repetitive and physically demanding work. Therefore, the workers are highly susceptible to repetitive-strain injuries to their hands, wrists, elbows, and back. Additionally, quality control and hygiene requirements are vital to this industry. For these reasons, industrial robots have been considered for automating processes such as animal slaughtering, meat cutting and meat selecting. This paper presents an assessment of the requirements for industrial robots in meat processing. Results from a conducted study are disclosed for the existing and potential robotic applications. The meat processes in detail, requirements, challenges and barriers of robotic automation are described, robotic research activities are introduced, existing robotic applications are analyzed and studied and potential applications are proposed and discussed.