Pallet-Level RF Produce Monitoring for Non-Destructive Quality Sensing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current quality testing methods for produce are inefficient, expensive, and prone to human error, leading to food wastage due to spoilage and decreased nutritional content, as they lack the ability to accurately monitor produce quality at scale and multiple points along the supply chain.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing radio frequency (RF) signals to analyze the dielectric properties of produce by transmitting and receiving RF signals at multiple frequencies, allowing for non-destructive, automated quality assessment at the pallet level, which can be integrated with supply chain management systems to identify potential spoilage issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If visual inspection is used to monitor produce quality, then manual labor is required, but it is prone to human error and can only inspect visible produce
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection with an automated RF signal transmission and reception system. The RF transmitter sends signals through the produce, and the receiver captures the transmitted signals to analyze dielectric properties, eliminating human error and enabling comprehensive monitoring of all produce items regardless of visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces RF signals as an intermediary medium to monitor produce quality. Instead of direct visual inspection, the system uses RF signals that interact with the dielectric properties of the produce to infer quality characteristics, allowing non-contact measurement of internal properties.
2Ease of operation
If hand-held spectrum analyzers are used for non-destructive testing, then testing is portable and easy to use, but it is expensive and can test only one fruit at a time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the monitoring system into distributed RF transmitter and receiver units that can be positioned at different locations around the produce container. This segmentation allows the system to monitor multiple items simultaneously by transmitting and receiving signals at different positions, dramatically increasing throughput while maintaining portability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional sequential testing (one fruit at a time) to multi-dimensional simultaneous monitoring by placing transmitters and receivers at multiple spatial positions around the produce container, enabling parallel testing of multiple items across different spatial dimensions.
3Reliability
If lab testing is performed to understand produce quality, then quality certification is provided, but it is expensive and time consuming with destructive sampling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces destructive lab testing with non-contact RF signal analysis. The system transmits RF signals through the produce and analyzes the transmitted signals to determine dielectric properties such as water content, sugar content, and ripeness, providing quality certification without destroying the produce and without requiring time-consuming laboratory procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses RF signals as an intermediary to obtain quality information without direct physical contact or destruction of the produce. The RF signals interact with the dielectric properties of the produce to extract quality data, replacing the need for destructive sampling while maintaining measurement accuracy.
4Quantity of substance
If sparse sampling is used in quality testing, then testing cost is reduced, but the sampling is not reflective of the quality of the pallets or larger quantities of produce
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal monitoring system where RF transmitters and receivers can be positioned to monitor any location within the produce container. This multi-functional approach allows the system to comprehensively scan the entire pallet, providing complete quality information across all produce items rather than limited sparse sampling.
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
Provides accurate, cost-effective, and frequent quality monitoring of produce, reducing food wastage by identifying premature ripening and spoilage, and enabling timely adjustments along the supply chain.
Implementation Method 1
analyzing the sample signal to identify differences between the RF signal and the sample signal representative of dielectric properties of the produce
Data Source
AI summary
A data processing system implements transmitting an RF signal using a transmitter disposed at a first side of a produce container containing produce to be monitored for quality. The signal is transmitted on multiple frequencies. The system further implements receiving the signal using a receiver disposed at a second side of the produce container opposite the first side of the produce container so the signal passes through the produce; obtaining a sample signal output by the receiver responsive to receiving the signal that passed through the produce contained in the produce container; analyzing the sample signal to identify differences between the RF signal and the sample signal representative of the dielectric properties of the produce; determining an estimated quality level of the produce based on the differences between the RF signal and the sample signal; and outputting an indication of the estimated quality level of the produce.