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Robotic System Inspects Fruit Quality

posted on August 9, 2002

"This apple is good. This apple is bad."

A USDA robotic inspection system is being developed which would be a virtual "taste" test of every single apple before being shipped to market.

A robotic inspection camera that bounces light off the fruit to sense sugar content and firmness, the two top traits that make an apple taste great.

Apple packinghouses currently rely on digital camera imagery to sort apples by surface appearance only. The new system can detect bruises beneath an apple's skin.

Tags: agriculture apples news robots technology USDA

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