Boaz Zion, Ph.D.

Name:	Boaz Zion, Ph.D. (Retiree)
Units:	Agricultural Engineering, Sensing, Information and Mechanization Engineering
Research Interests / Job description Latest Chapters In Blog

Tel:	03-9683450 03-9683303 03-9683737
Cell:	050-6220450
Fax:	972-3-9604704
Email:	boazz@volcani.agri.gov.il
Office location:	Bet Dagan
Address:	P.O. Box 6 Bet Dagan, Israel 50250
Researcher

Research Interests / Job description
	Aquacultural Engineering; Robotics in Agriculture; Power and Machinery; Computer Vision and Image Processing; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Imaging and Spectroscopy;


Recent Reviewed Publications: Zion B., Gollop R., Barak M., Sela (Saldinger) S., Arbel A. (2021). External disinfection of shell eggs using steam in a Thermal Trap Food Control, accepted for publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2021.108135 Klapp I., Arad O., Rosenfeld L., Barki A., Shaked B., Zion B. (2018). Ornamental fish counting by non-imaging optical system for real-time applications. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 153: 126-133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2018.08.007 Mann M.P., Zion B., Rubinstein D. and Shmulevich I. (2015). Determination of robotic melon harvesting efficiency: a probabilistic approach. International Journal of Production Research, 54(11): 3216-3228. DOI: 0.1080/00207543.2015.1081428 Mann M.P., Zion B.., Rubinstein D. and Shmulevich I (2015). The Orienteering Problem with Time Windows Applied to Robotic Melon Harvesting: A Dynamic Programming Approach Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications, 168(1): 246-267. DOI 10.1007/s10957-015-0767-z Mann M.P., Zion B., Shmulevich I., Rubinstein D. and Linker R. (2015). Combinatorial Optimization and Performance Analysis of a Multi-arm Cartesian Robotic Fruit Harvester - extensions of graph coloring. Journal of Intelligent and Robotic Systems, 82(3-4): 399-411. DOI 10.1007/s10846-015-0211-5 Hershenhorn J., Zion B., Smirnov E., Weissblum A., Shamir N., Dor E., Achdari G., Ziadna H., and Shilo A. (2015). Cyperus rotundus control using a mechanical digger and solar radiation. Weeds Research, 1: 42-50. Zion B., Mann M.P., Levin D., Shilo A., Rubinstein D. and Shmulevich I. (2014). Planning harvest order of a multi-arm robotic harvester. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 103C: 75-81. Mann M.P., Zion B., Rubinstein D. and Shmulevich I. (2014). Minimum time kinematic motions of a Cartesian mobile manipulator for a fruit harvesting robot. Journal of Dynamic Systems Measurement and Control-Transactions of the ASME, 136(5): 051009. doi: 10.1115/1.4027088 Mann M.P., Shmulevich I., Rubinstein D. and Zion B. (2014). Motion planning of a mobile Cartesian manipulator for optimal harvesting of 2-D crops. Transactions of the ASABE Journal, 57(1): 283-295. Zion B., Karplus I. and Barki A. (2014). Effect of duration and timing of acoustic signal transmission on ranched fish response. Journal of Applied Aquaculture, 26(1): 11-21. Barki A., Zion B., Shapira L. and Karplus I. (2013). A novel method using light for increasing fry yield in guppy breeding tanks. Aquacultural Engineering, 57: 131-134. Barki A., Zion B., Shapira L. and Karplus I. (2013). The effects of illumination and daily number of collections on fry yields in guppy breeding tanks. Aquacultural Engineering, 57: 108-113. Barki A., Zion B., Shapira L. and Karplus I. (2013). Using attraction to light to decrease cannibalism and increase fry production in guppy (Poecilia reticulata) hatcheries. II: The effects of light and cannibalistic adults. Aquaculture Research, 45(11): 1810-1817. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/are.12129 Barki A., Zion B., Shapira L. and Karplus I. (2012). Using attraction to light to decrease cannibalism and increase fry production in guppy (Poecilia reticulata) hatcheries I: phototactic reaction and light color preference. Aquaculture Research, 45(8): 1295-1302. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/are.12070 Zion B. and Barki A. (2012). Ranching fish using acoustic conditioning: Has it reached a dead end? An invited review. Aquaculture, 344-349: 3-11. Zion B. (2012). The use of computer vision technologies in aquaculture - A review. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 88: 125-132. Zion B., Arbel A., Halaly T., Regev R., Barak M., Lidor G., Weissblum A. and Or E. (2012). A Heat-Shock Generator for dormancy release induction in grapevines. Transactions of the American Society of Biological and Agricultural Engineers, 55(3): 753-758. Zion B., Weissblum A., Shamir N., Dor E., Smirnov E., Achdari G., Ziadna H., Hershenhorn J. (2012). Control of Nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) using a mechanical tillage and solar dehydration Nir & Telem (Hebrew), 41: 28-36. Zion B., Karplus I. and Barki A. (2012). Ranching acoustically conditioned fish using an automatic fishing machine. Aquaculture, 330:333: 136-141. Zion B., Barki A., Grinshpon Y., Rosenfeld L. and Karplus I. (2011). An automatic fishing machine based on acoustic conditioning. Aquacultural Engineering, 45(2): 87-91. Zion B., Karplus I., Grinshpon Y., Rosenfeld L. and Barki A. (2011). Periodic reinforcement of acoustically conditioned behavior in St. Peter's fish, Sarotherodon galilaeus, for ranching purposes. Aquaculture, 315 (3-4):394-399. Halaly T., Zion B., Arbel A., Regev R., Barak M., and Or E. (2011). Short exposure to sublethal temperature facilitates dormancy release in grapevines. American Journal of Enology and Viticulture, 62 (1): 106-112. Zion B., Barki A., Grinshpon Y., Rosenfeld L. and Karplus I. (2011). Retention of acoustic conditioning in St. Peter's fish Sarotherodon galilaeus. Journal of Fish Biology, 78: 838-847. Zion B., Bechar A., Regev R., Shamir N., Weissblum A., Zipori Y. and Dag A. (2011). Mechanical harvesting of olives - operations study. Israeli Journal of Horticultural Science, 59: 71-84. Shamir N., Zion B., Weissblum A., Ronen B., Bernstein R., and Ohaliav K. (2010). Development of a planting machine for summer vegetables in wet soils. Nir & Telem (Hebrew), 22:40-45. Zion B., Karplus I. and Barki A. (2010). Generalization and discrimination of positive and negative acoustic stimuli in the common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Behavioural Processes, 83: 306-310. Zion B., Alchanatis V., Ostrovsky V., Barki A. and Karplus I. (2008). Classification of Guppies' (Poecilia reticulata) Gender by Computer Vision. Aquacultural Engineering, 38: 97-104. Zion B., Barki A., Grinshpon Y., Rosenfeld L. and Karplus I. (2007). Social Facilitation of Acoustic Training in the Common Carp Cyprinus carpio (L.). Behaviour, 144: 611-630. Karplus I., Zion B., Rosenfeld L., Grinshpon Y., Slosman T., Goshen Z. and Barki A. (2007). Social Facilitation of Learning in Mixed Species Schools of Common Carp Cyprino carpio (L.) and Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (L.). Journal of Fish Biology, 71: 1023-1034. Zion B., Weisblum A., Reshef L., Regev R., Lev M., Levi M., Cohen M., Steinmetz Y. (2007). Mechanical Harvesting of Leucadendron Flowers. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 23: 425-431 Zion B., Alchanatis V., Ostrovsky V., Barki A., Karplus I. (2007). Real-time Underwater Sorting of Edible Fish Species. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 56: 34-45. Zion B., Deutch N., Ostrovsky V., Alchanatis V., Barki A. and Karplus I. (2006). Ornamental Fish Fry Counting by Image Processing. Internal scientific publication. Karplus I, Alchanatis, V. and Zion B. (2005). Guidance of Groups of Guppies (Poecilia reticulata) to Allow Sorting by Computer Vision. Aquacultural Engineering, 32: 509-520. Allowed patents: Zion B., Wolf I. and Nahir D. (1996) A Device for Sorting Items. Patent number 119910. Rishpon J., Eshkenazi I., Zion B. and Maltz E. (2001) Method for Measuring Protein in Milk using Iodine. Patent number 122538. Zion B., Lev M., Weisblum A., Regev R., Reshef L., Levi M., Cohen M. Ben Yaacov Y. (2005). Flower Crop Harvester. Patent application No.171969/3. Zion B., Wolf I., Weisblum A., Hoffman A., Regev R. and Bernstein R. (2008).Gripper for Flower Sorting Systems. Provisional application number US 61/136,076. Zion B., Ostrovsky V., Karplus I., Barki A., Alchanatis V. and Y. Wolf (2008).System and Methods for Fish Counting and Weighing. Provisional application number US 61/095,629. Zion B., Wolf I., Weisblum A., Hoffman A., Regev R. and Bernstein R. (2009). Gripper for Flower Sorting Systems. PCT application number PCT/IL 2009/000774. Arbel A., Barak M., Zion B., Afgin Y. (2013) Thermal Trap System. Provisional Patent Application, Attorney Docket No. 57286 Current projects: Salmonella control on fresh shell eggs and seeds Dormancy release in grapevines and deciduous fruit trees using a thermal treatment. Multi-arms robotic system for harvesting melons . Mechanical system and method for Purple Nutgrass (Cyperus rotundus) control. A "Virtual-Cage Culture" technology for ranching fish in the open sea. Awards: 1997 State of Israel, Ministry of Justice, Inventors Award A Vibrating Sorter for Flower Bulbs and Corms for Family-Size Farms. Licensed to and manufactured by Pazur Patents Manufacturing and Development, under a royalty agreement. 2000 8th Annual OEMmie Awards for Modern Innovative Engineering Solutions (USA) Hex-Air Sorting and Counting System. 2001 State of Israel, Ministry of Justice, Inventors Award A System for Sorting Items by Weight. Licensed to and manufactured by Juran Metal Works Ltd under a royalty agreement. 2009 Inventors Award Approved by the internal committee of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. System and Method for Fish Counting and Weighing. Commercially applied in major farms in Israel.