1. Food Distribution Image Processor (Food DIP)
“Saving you money, while protecting your food”
Brandy Alger, Travis Ayers,
Josue Figueroa, Joaquin Labrado
The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio TX, 78249
Need for design The Image Processing The Actuator Conclusions
• Food Recalls due to moldy strawberries
I The image processing algorithm is The belt driven actuator is designed to fit This device uses image processing
• Pounds of strawberries thrown out daily essential in detecting mold or bruising in a across the conveyor belt that the food is synchronized with a belt actuator to allow for
in grocery stores for mold and bruising strawberry. Mold is detected on the traveling on. Though the prototype is the safe, quick, and effective removal of
• Some mold undetectable strawberry using an algorithm developed equipped with a brush, one can use a undesired produce saving time, money, and
• Loss of revenue for distributors due to in MATLAB that will compare the variety of attachments that are suitable for possibly lives.
packaging cost of bad strawberries incoming strawberry to a database of other produce. The actuator works by
stored images of strawberries and will driving the belt forward and backward Full Device specs
Solution Food DIP “decide” whether or not the strawberry is across the conveyor belt to easily push,
good to distribute. All image processing scoop, grab or even mark the product that •Arduino Romeo Microcontroller
Use image processing to detect mold and
bruising and a belt actuator to remove will be done on strawberries under black has been identified as undesirable. This Provides proper timing and PWM
undesired strawberries. The Food DIP will light conditions. As seen in the left two method of separating the produce is useful signals for the motor controller.
images below, the black light reveals mold when compared to the use of a robotic arm Also updates count of produce.
be able to safely reduce the amount of
contaminated produce leaving distribution and bruising on the strawberry that is hard or even a person. The belt allows the “bad” •PC with Database
centers. to see without the black light. The right produce to either be discarded or push it to Implements image processing for
two images shows how mold glows under another line for further testing. In the detection of mold and bruising.
the black light. In the future a device will future, a device will be added to evenly •Sabertooth 2x10 RC Motor
Block diagram
be utilized to turn the strawberries to allow space the strawberries before image Controller
Figure A (Below) shows the complete imaging of all sides. A general algorithm processing. Turns PWM signals into motion
block diagram of the prototype. will be written to detect mold and bruising control for linear slide motor. Can
for other types of produce. Figure C (Below Right) shows the belt provide up to 10 amps of current.
actuator head on as it lays across the •14.4V Brushed DC Motor
conveyor belt. Basic DC brushed motor, the
input voltage range is from 12 -18
volts.
•IR Position Sensor
Begins the processing/
Figure B (Above) shows how the use of a programming sequence when
black light brings out mold and bruising in produce breaks the line of sight.
strawberries. •12V DC 25 Amp Power Supply
Supplies power to all major
Figure D (Right) shows the object/process components
diagram of a pattern recognition system.