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Muñoz del Salto, Emilio
Smart Agriculture: Designing a Cocoa Pulping Machine with IoT and Industry 4.0
2025
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Topon Visarrea, Blanca
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Muñoz del Salto, Emilio
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Pozo Espin, Israel
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Ruano Cañar, Lenin
Agriculture is a key pillar in Ecuador's economy, one of the most recognized products worldwide is cocoa due to its quality. However, the lack of adoption of advanced technologies limits competitiveness in the face of growing global demand. Therefore, incorporating Industry 4.0 technologies will modernize the process, increase productivity and improve the conditions of small and medium-sized producers. This research addresses the design of a pulping machine that integrates Industry 4.0 technologies to optimize the cocoa pulping process on a farm in Ecuador. Currently, the process is manual and involves 12 workers for three days to obtain 20 quintals of cocoa pulp, with limited efficiency and high labor costs. The main objective is to design a technological solution that significantly reduces operating times, improves the quality of the final product and facilitates real-time monitoring. The methodology included an analysis of the current process using analytical flowcharts and the evaluation of mechanical, electrical and electronic components. The proposed design incorporates an ESP32 microcontroller that centralizes sensor data to monitor parameters such as temperature, humidity and processed volume, allowing remote visualization on the Arduino Cloud platform. This integration facilitates human-computer interaction by providing real-time data and reducing human intervention in significant tasks. Expected results indicate a decrease in pulping time by 49.2% and an increase in production capacity by 50.46%, also optimizing energy consumption and product quality. The implementation of the design will have a positive impact on the competitiveness and sustainability of the cocoa sector, promoting more efficient and accessible agroindustrial practices.