MACHINE VISION n involvement. Eberle is now refining it to handle all types of cheese at all stages of ripening, with the long-term goal of creating a fully automated, AI-driven system that needs no human input. The system also provides the basis for future digitalisation programmes, with the potential to be integrated into larger digital platforms, such as ERP systems and the cloud, to enhance the production processes further. Eberle has used AI and deep learning to create a system that adapts to the unique characteristics of each wheel of cheese. By training a deep-learning network with a large dataset of cheese images, the Halcon software detects defects such as cracks, mould and discoloration reliably, while ignoring the natural variations inherent in the process. Even subtle anomalies are spotted, allowing for earlier intervention and better quality control. The automated system is delivering several key benefits for Baldauf, including: n Increased efficiency The mobile robot operates autonomously, reducing labour costs while ensuring that each wheel of cheese is inspected thoroughly. n Reduced waste Early detection of mould or defects allows for timely intervention, preventing cheeses from being rejected, and cutting waste. n Improved quality control The system ensures more consistent, less subjective inspection by replacing manual methods with AI. It achieves a 100% inspection rate, applying the same inspection criteria throughout. n Traceability The industrial imageprocessing technology ensures complete traceability. All of the inspection results are stored digitally, allowing better decisionmaking and long-term process optimisation. Building on the success of the project, Eberle is now scaling the technology to meet the needs of the whole cheese industry. It is planning to standardise the system and integrate it with both mobile and stationary robots for cheese production worldwide. The system’s AI capabilities are continuing to evolve. Eberle wants to refine the deeplearning models to handle different types of cheese, and different ripening stages, allowing fully automated classification and inspection. n A view of the inspection screen showing (left) how the wheel should look and (right) a “heat map” revealing areas with defects. The image in the middle shows the result of the current inspection.
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