Food production industry is one of largest industries in
world. Many manufacturing processes and companies are involved in this industry
that makes food we enjoy every day. Such processes can take months for
research, testing and deployment. Computer vision offers awe-inspiring advances
for food and beverage industry.
1. Quality check
In a food production process quality of each product should
be checked so that only high-quality products are delivered to customers. For
this purpose use of computer vision systems is increasingly popular in food
industry.
Each food company has its own specific requirements for this
solution. These often require proprietary data, specialized sensors, and
different computer vision technologies. The way to meet these requirements is
to customize the software and hardware to each customer.
For instance algorithms for extracting features from images
will vary depending on what the object is (e.g., an orange crate) and what’s in
the picture (e.g., a grayscale conveyor belt) and background and lighting.
2. Sorting, counting, measuring
While people would have trouble evaluating a fruit’s size,
they can generally make a good estimate by comparing its proportions with other
fruits they know. Most customers prefer apples that are between 75 and 80 mm in
diameter. We can measure diameter of a gorgeous apple in a fraction of a second
with computer vision.
A computer vision counting and sorting system can simplify
grading fruits, vegetables, nuts, and oysters according to their shape, size,
and maturity. It also speeds up sorting by 10 times.
3. Packaging
An automated computer vision visual check of a package’s
filling level and labeling can help prevent shortages and food recalls. These
solutions can check fill levels in bottles and prevent overfilling and
mislabeling.
A visual check can detect packed product freshness by
special ink changing its color based on time at a faster pace depending on
temperature, this is how machine vision is revolutionizing food
industry.
