Crustacean Moult Stage Detection via Multispectral Imaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for determining the moult stage of crustaceans, such as blood protein analysis and pleopod staging, are invasive and not suitable for individual assessment on a production line, while non-invasive methods like shell hardness measurement are unreliable and difficult to implement.

Innovation Solution

A machine vision system using a camera and pattern detector to capture and analyze images of crustaceans in visible, infrared, or ultraviolet spectra to detect characteristics indicative of moult stage, allowing for non-invasive and accurate determination of moult stage and quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If blood protein analysis or pleopod staging is used to determine moult stage, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to invasive procedures and specialized training requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemoult stage determination accuracyVSAvoidease of individual assessment on production line

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces invasive mechanical sampling methods (blood protein analysis, pleopod staging) with non-invasive optical imaging. A camera system captures images of the crustacean shell, and image processing algorithms automatically determine moult stage, eliminating the need for physical sampling and specialized manual assessment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates an optical copy (image) of the crustacean shell instead of taking physical samples. The 2D or 3D image captures shell characteristics that can be analyzed to determine moult stage, replacing the need to actually handle and examine the crustacean's biological samples.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Ease of operation

If shell hardness measurement is used to identify inter-moult crustaceans, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to unreliability in distinguishing moult stages

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of non-invasive measurementVSAvoidmoult stage distinction accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes optical properties (analogous to color changes) of the shell in different spectra (visible, infrared, ultraviolet). The shell exhibits different optical characteristics at different moult stages, which the imaging system detects to accurately distinguish between inter-moult, post-moult, and pre-moult stages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent moves the measurement from a single mechanical dimension (shell hardness) to multiple optical dimensions (different spectra). By imaging in visible, infrared, and/or ultraviolet spectra, the system captures additional characteristics that provide reliable moult stage differentiation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Measurement precision

If ultrasound or x-ray scanning systems are used to sense shell hardness and meat yield, then measurement precision may be improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to difficulty in implementation and unreliable results

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshell hardness and meat yield detectionVSAvoidimplementation complexity on production line

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical sensing systems (ultrasound, x-ray) with a simpler optical imaging system. The camera-based system captures shell images that can be processed to determine both moult stage and meat yield indicators, simplifying the overall system while maintaining measurement capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables accurate and efficient identification of moult stage and quality of individual crustaceans, improving meat yield prediction and health assessment, and facilitating sorting and grading in the seafood industry.

Implementation Method 1

The image is an infrared spectrum image of the live crustacean

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared radiation detection: Infrared Radiation

Implementation Method 2

The image is an ultraviolet spectrum image of the live crustacean

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltraviolet radiation detection:

Data Source

PatentUS10638730B2Imaging for determination of crustacean physical attributes

Publication Date: 2020.05.05 CLEARWATER SEAFOODS LLP

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to imaging for determination of crustacean physical attributes. An image of a shell of a live crustacean is captured and processed to determine a physical attribute of the live crustacean. In an embodiment a characteristic of a pattern indicative of moult stage of the live crustacean is detected, from the captured image. Multiple images may be used in some embodiments, including images of different types such as visible spectrum images, infrared spectrum images, and/or ultraviolet spectrum images.