41 www.drivesncontrols.com April 2023 MACHINE VISION n A UK machine vision specialist claims to have automated the peeling, coring and chopping of apples without impacting yield for the first time. The technology could help tackle labour shortages in the food sector. Apple processing is extremely labour-intensive. Until now, attempts to automate the process have been unsuccessful. Both mechanical and 2D vision systems have struggled with the inherent variability in the fruit, resulting in unreliable performance and unacceptably high levels of waste. Now, Scorpion Vision claims to have overcome the challenge using 3D cameras with colour and shape measurement capabilities, and training them using AI to identify and locate features such as apple pips. This intelligence is passed on to a servo system in the form of coordinates that are used to guide a robotic peeler, knife or corer to operate with millimetric precision. The vision system can be taught to work with variability without affecting processing performance or accuracy. By applying AI to its 3D Agritech camera, Scorpion says it can achieve a high level of repeatability – the key to high yields and minimal wastage. Yields of over 99% are said to be possible, compared with yields of around 70% for mechanical or 2D vision systems. “We are excited to be bringing our proven AI-optimised vision technology to a new area of the fresh produce industry,” says Scorpion Vision MD, Paul Wilson. “It is the first time that a commercially viable solution for automating apple processing has been available. In this respect, AI has been a game-changer – providing the missing link that was needed to build vision-guided robotics that can guarantee high yields in spite of variable subject matter.” Scorpion’s 3D+AI technology has now been applied to a variety of produce applications, ranging from topping and tailing sweetcorn, swedes and leeks, to de-coring lettuce, removing the outer leaves from sprouts, and de-shelling seafood. Scorpion says it has used AI to train 3D cameras to identify and locate apple characteristics such as pips, helping to automate the peeling, coring and chopping of the fruit without impacting yield for the first time. 3D vision plus AI tackles previously ‘impossible’ apple-processing tasks MACHINE VISION CAMERAS FOR AUTOMATION AND QUALITY INSPECTION APPLICATIONS Tel: +44 (0)1635 937000 Email: sales@alrad.co.uk Web:www.alrad.com - We offer a wide range of cameras, lenses, lighting, interface cards, cables, housings, software and much more... - For measurement and inspection including print and barcode verification our cameras, lighting and powerful machine vision software solutions provide the answers. For materials inspection including surface analysis and sorting, we supply Multispectral & Hyperspectral vision systems. Do you need to monitor ‘Hot Spots’ for pre-emptive maintenance or design inspection? Our Thermal Vision systems give you the hidden picture. Contact us at Drives & Controls Damien Oxlee 01732 370342 damien.oxlee@dfamedia.co.uk Andy Wylie 01732 370341 andy.wylie@dfamedia.co.uk IF YOU’RE READING THIS, THEN SO ARE 60,000+ ENGINEERS. IMAGINE THE IMPACT YOUR ADVERTISEMENT COULD HAVE.
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