SBIR-STTR Award

Internal Apple Defect Detection Using X-Ray
Award last edited on: 5/7/2014

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
USDA
Total Award Amount
$294,700
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
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Principal Investigator
Charles P L Fischer

Company Information

Zedec Technologies Inc

PO Box 859
Morrisville, NC 27560
   (919) 465-2306
   N/A
   www.zedec.com
Location: Single
Congr. District: 04
County: Wake

Phase I

Contract Number: 99-33610-7511
Start Date: 00/00/00    Completed: 00/00/00
Phase I year
1999
Phase I Amount
$34,700
There are two fundamental segments of the post harvest apple market - fresh pack and process. In the fresh pack industry, apples are packed immediately and sold or stored in cold storage to be packaged and sold at a later date. In the process market, the apples are inspected by a USDA inspector who determines the grade and price. Both scenarios benefit from an objective quality inspection. During the ARS Apple Research Review held in Beltsville, MD, on November 19-20, 1996, growers across the U.S. expressed interest in the inspection of fruit for internal damage. Both segments are concerned with the following internal defects: water core, internal browning, worm holes, and bruising.ZEDEC has been involved in the research and prototype development of a real-time automated inspection station for surface and near surface defects using visible and NIR reflectance spectra. However, the system can not inspect inside the apple. Recent advances in sensitivity and speed in x- ray inspection technology using amorphous silicon detection panels have made it possible to effectively inspect inside the apple for interior defects in a high-speed production environment. ZEDEC's expertise in automating the inspection of apples including defect detection and classification can be directly applied to the use of this new x-ray technology.Orientation of the fruit is critical when inspecting apples with x-ray. Current apple conveying technology with orientation has been developed at Cornell University. This program will demonstrate that internal defects can be visualized with x-ray technology and can be used in a high-speed production environment on an orienting apple conveying system.

Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications of Research:
:This proposal is intended to show that defects internal to apples - water core, internal browning, worm holes, and bruising can be detected using a high-speed (video-rate) x-ray detection device. The detection of these defects in a "real-time " environment will provide the fresh pack industry a way to ensure that fruit of quality is packed or stored thus minimizing storage contamination and improving the international market penetration. In addition, the process industry will have a more complete, objective inspection method, satisfying both the growers, and processing plants' needs for automation and labor cost reduction. The combination of the surface inspection already in prototype and this x-ray detection will make a complete post harvest apple inspection station.RURAL AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUNDED PROJECTSENHANCING COMMERCIAL USE OF THE INTERNET FOR RURAL WOOD PRODUCTS COMPANIESLOCALLY PRODUCED ESSENTIAL OILS AS A SOURCE OF SMALL FARM INCOMEPOLYNESIAN/ASIAN MEDICINAL HERBS COMMERCIAL CULTIVATION AND PROCESSING IN RURAL HAWAIIENHANCED EXTRACTION METHODS OF NUTRACEUTICALS/HERB PRODUCTS FROM MID- ATLANTIC ORGANIC FARMSEXPRESSION OF AMERICAN GINSENG GROWING RANGE INTO SOUTH-CENTRAL ALASKACELLULOSE-EARTH MATERIAL FOR RURAL HOMESTREATMENT OF SEPTIC TANK EFFLUENT USING A GRANULATED PEAT BIOFILTERINVESTIGATIVE ASPHALTIC CONCRETE DESIGN USING COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT BOTTOM ASHPNEUMATIC CONVECTION DRYER FOR ANIMAL WASTE MANAGEMENTTRAINING PROGRAM FOR UNIVERSAL TRAIL ASSESSMENT PROCESS MASTER TRAINERS

Phase II

Contract Number: 99-33610-7511
Start Date: 00/00/00    Completed: 00/00/00
Phase II year
2000
Phase II Amount
$260,000
All apples sold in the United States for fresh pack or processing must pass an inspection for quality. The current manual inspection process for internal defects is slow, subjective, and inaccurate. While automated systems have been developed for color, size, and surface defect inspection, no system is available for automatic internal defect detection in apples. This proposed project will develop an automated x-ray based imaging system for inspection of internal defects in apples. The results of our Phase I study prove the feasibility of the process. The work will be conducted to test and integrate the four components of the system - image capture, image analysis, transport, and system software. We will determine the x-ray exposure duration, synchronize the amorphous panel to the x-ray generator and conveyor, and refine image analysis algorithms to detect internal apple defects in real-time.