Rotating-Base Imaging for Internal and External Fruit Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fruit and vegetable inspection systems struggle to efficiently assess criteria such as internal quality (sugar content and acidity) and external quality (rot and blemishes) due to complexity and variability in evaluation methods.
Innovation Solution
An inspection device with a rotating base and imaging system that captures multiple images at regular intervals, combined with an information processing unit to analyze weight and image data, determining criteria like size, deformity, volume, density, sugar content, and ripeness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple imaging devices are used to capture images from different directions, then measurement precision of external quality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple imaging devices are integrated into a single inspection system with coordinated control, capturing images from different directions simultaneously or sequentially to comprehensively assess external quality including rot and blemishes, while maintaining manageable system complexity through unified control architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from single-direction imaging to multi-directional imaging by adding spatial dimensions, enabling comprehensive external quality assessment by capturing images from multiple angles and combining them for complete surface inspection
2Productivity
If the base rotates to capture multiple images at regular intervals, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base is designed to rotate dynamically at controlled speeds, allowing the object to be inspected to rotate and present different surfaces to the imaging device, enabling rapid multi-angle inspection and improving productivity through motion-based imaging sequences
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation mechanism implements periodic motion with regular intervals, capturing images at predetermined rotational positions, which standardizes the inspection process and enables efficient processing through rhythmic, repeatable imaging cycles
3Measurement precision
If multiple images are captured and analyzed, then measurement precision of internal quality is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary image capture and preprocessing operations in advance, organizing multiple images from different angles and time points before final analysis, which streamlines the processing workflow and reduces overall analysis time while maintaining comprehensive quality assessment
Solution Approach 2:
The inspection system maintains continuous operation by overlapping image capture and processing operations, where images are captured continuously during rotation and processing begins immediately, eliminating idle time and ensuring uninterrupted inspection flow
Data Source
AI summary
An inspection system includes a base on which an object to be inspected is placed, a drive device that rotates the base on which the object to be inspected is placed, and an imaging device that images the object to be inspected.