Kibbutz Ketura uses a manual crate sifting system to sort argan nuts into four groups by size before the cracking process. This is necessary as the cracking machine struggles with large size variance and nuts with multiple kernels. Our project was to design and build a proof-of-concept sorting machine to aid in scaling up production. The resulting machine was 290% faster while maintaining accuracy comparable to the sifting crates. The size groups Ketura uses were condensed into three size groups. As Kibbutz Ketura and partner Kibbutzim start to expand argan agriculture, scalability is needed.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Raymond, Nathan
• McKevitt, Conner
• Kaushik, Raman
• Dunham, Elliot

Subject

• Environment
• Sustainability
• Innovation
• Industry
• Food

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-022723-101848
• 89756

Keyword

• Argan Oil
• Desert Agriculture
• Argan Nuts
• Sorting
• Automation

Advisor

• Solovey, Erin
• Bar-On, Isa

Year

• 2023

Center

• Israel Project Center (Eilat) - IQP

Sponsor

• Dr. Erin Solovey
• Dr. Isa Bar-On

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth
• 9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
• 15 - Life On Land

Date created

• 2023-02-27

Resource type

• Interactive Qualifying Project

Source

• E-project-022723-101848

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2023-06-08