Analysis of Fruits by Image Processing Algorithms

Droplet impingement cooling on flat surfaces finds its applications in spray cooling of hot surfaces, deposition of molten metal on surfaces, plasma coating, cooling of brake pad, turbine blade and in electronic chip cooling. Optimization of such a process requires a thorough understanding of the hydrodynamic process which happens during impingement of the droplet on the surface. Image processing techniques can be employed to understand the process. Image processing is converting an image into digital form and analyzing it, to get an improved image and extracting the desired information from it. The technique is widely used in face detection, remote sensing applications, machine vision and industrial robotics. In the present work an image processing algorithm is developed for a specific surface cooling technique. A hot surface is treated by impinging droplets. The size of the droplets can alter the material characteristics significantly. The objective of the present work is to develop an image processing algorithm to find the droplet dimensions. The variation in radius and height is examined with the help of Matlab software. Edge detection techniques are used to determine the boundaries of the droplet clearly. The algorithm is developed using Matlab toolbox and is capable of measuring droplet height and spreading radius in detail. The advantage of this algorithm is that the technique can be employed to the process in real time.

Fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) are among the most important pests of fruits and vegetables in the world. In Ethiopia, orange (Citrus sp.) and guava (Psidium guajava L) production are highly impacted by fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) infestation and endanger the contribution of these fruits to the national economy. This study was conducted in the orange and guava growing areas of South Wollo and Oromia administrative zone, Ethiopia. In these areas, little is known on fruit fly incidence and the extent of damage on orange and guava fruits. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess fruit fly damage on orange and guava fruits. We measured fruit fly incidence and the extent of fruit damage in four districts of 20 fruit farms of two zones in 2016/17. Mean percent damage of orange fruits was significantly higher at Worebabo (44.4%) and Dawachefa (40.4%) than Tehulederi (34.4%) and Kalu (29.2%). Similarly, the mean number of fruit fly larvae per fruit was significantly higher at Worebabo (5.8%) and Dawachefa (5.8%) than at Tehulderi (3.5%) and Kalu (3.8%). Fruit fly caused higher guava fruit damage (33.3-66.7%) than sweet orange (29.2%-44.4%) of different districts. The severity of damage by fruit fly was high in all economically important fruits. The presence of one or more larvae in fruits results in 100% marketable losses. In conclusion the damage caused by fruit fly on both locations was significantly high and need due attention to reduce the direct losses on marketable fruits. Therefore, we recommend that timely monitoring and forecasting, as well as integrated fruit fly prevention methods should be in place.

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the influences of variety and flowering time on physio-morphological and chemical characters of Dragon fruit. Research Method: Two varieties (BAU Dragon fruit 1 and BAU Dragon fruit 2) and four flowering times (May, June, July, and August) were selected for this investigation. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with five replications. Findings: Significant variations were observed between two varieties of Dragon fruit. It was found that BAU Dragon fruit 2 exhibited better performances on studied parameters as compared to BAU Dragon fruit 1. It was observed that at 38 days after fruit setting (DAFS), BAU Dragon fruit 2 produced highest fruit length (10.01cm), fresh weight (307.94 g/fruit), dry weight (24.85 g/fruit), pulp weight (168.98 g/fruit), peel weight (91.32 g/fruit) and total soluble solids (TSS) (25.16% Brix) as compared to another variety. The combine effects of variety and flowering time showed that August flowering of BAU Dragon fruit 2 produced maximum fruit length (10.74 cm) and peel weight (115.65 g/fruit) while May flowering of BAU Dragon fruit 2 produced maximum fresh weight (456.50 g/fruit), pulp weight (302.12 g/fruit), moisture content (94.63%) and TSS (27.17 %Brix) as compared to other flowering time. In terms of time required to fruit maturity, August flowering BAU dragon fruit 2 matured earlier (30.6 days) than June flowering (35.04 days). Research limitations: Evaluation of more varieties of dragon fruit was a research limitation. Originality/value: These findings reveal that flowering time irrespective of variety has direct effects on fruit growth and development of Dragon fruit.

Machine vision can prevent additional stress on yarn caused by contact measurement, as well as the risk of hairiness and breakage. However, the speed of the machine vision system is limited by image processing, and the tension detection method based on the axially moving model does not take into account the disturbance on yarn caused by motor vibrations. Thus, an embedded system combining machine vision with a tension observer is proposed. The differential equation for the transverse dynamics of the string is established using Hamilton's principle and then solved. A field-programmable gate array (FPGA) is used for image data acquisition, and the image processing algorithm is implemented using a multi-core digital signal processor (DSP). To obtain the yarn vibration frequency in the axially moving model, the brightest centreline grey value of the yarn image is put forward as a reference to determine the feature line. The calculated yarn tension value is then combined with the value obtained using the tension observer based on an adaptive weighted data fusion method in a programmable logic controller (PLC). The results show that the accuracy of the combined tension is improved compared with the original two non-contact methods of tension detection at a faster update rate. The system alleviates the problem of inadequate sampling rate using only machine vision methods and can be applied to future real-time control systems.

Sclerocarya birrea (marula) is a highly valued fruit tree in southern Africa because of its products which have gained both regional and international markets. However, its fruits have been harvested from the wild with a few provenances being managed on farmland. Grafted marula trees have shown wide variations in scion and rootstock growth (for example, stem diameters), but effects of these variations on tree survival, growth and fruit production have not been evaluated. The objectives of this study were to (1) assess variations in growth of scions and their stocks and (2) evaluate the effect of scion and stock growth differences on overall grafted tree growth, survival, flower and fruit production on farmland, six to eight years after planting. Over 70% of the grafted trees had similar scion and stock diameters, while 24% had thicker (i.e, slow growing) scions than their stocks. Trees with similar scion and stock growth rate had a high flowering percentage (> 40%), but there was also significant fruit abortion during the three years of fruit production. Grafted trees with thicker scions than their stocks produced significantly more (P < 0.05) fruits than the rest. Such trees were also significantly (P < 0.0126, N = 50) taller than the rest. There was a low survival for grafted trees with either thick or thin scions relative to the stock diameters. It can be concluded that unequal growth rate of scion and stock in grafted marula trees has a negative effect on early tree survival and dwarfing characteristics, but this may not reduce fruit yield in the early years. Therefore, scion and stock selection is critical to reduce growth variations which have negative effects on grafted tree growth and fruit productivity. Key words: Fruit abortion, graft compatibility, phenotypic variations, tree dwarfing.

Despite the nutritional benefits obtained from fruit consumption, the presence of heavy metals accompanying it from the environment draws scientific concerns as these affect human health. The aim of this study is to determine nutritional composition and heavy metal content of some commonly consumed fruits (apple, watermelon and sweet orange) in Nigeria. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used to determine nickel, cadmium, chromium, lead and copper present in fruits. The results obtained show that the three fruit varieties contained considerable nutritional value that may meet body needs. Additionally, there was no significant difference in heavy metal concentrations of the fruits based on different locations (ANOVA F. test >0.05). This study posits that all the fruit varieties had the heavy metals within world health organisation (WHO) permissible limit except apples. Apples sampled for different locations had nickel and chromium levels above the WHO permissible limits. Based on the observations in this study, there is a need for continuity of heavy metals inspection in agricultural products so as to prevent contamination and secure human safety.

La calabaza pipiana es importante en la alimentacion de la poblacion en el centro-sur de Mexico. Sus semillas se consumen directamente tostadas y aderezadas con sal; ademas, son el ingrediente principal para elaborar platillos tipicos como el mole verde o pipian, asi como diferentes dulces tradicionales. Algunos microorganismos del suelo causan severos problemas en frutos, lo que afecta el rendimiento. El objetivo del estudio fue identificar morfologica y molecularmente al oomicete causante de la pudricion de frutos de calabaza pipiana, y evaluar opciones de control quimico y biologico en invernadero. Durante agosto y septiembre de 2011, en la zona norte del estado de Guerrero, se colectaron frutos de calabaza pipiana con sintomas de pudricion. La identificacion morfologica se realizo con las claves propuestas por Gallegly y Hong (2008), y la molecular fue mediante la reaccion en cadena de la polimerasa, ITS-PCR. En ambas pruebas se identifico a Phytophthora capsici como el causante de la pudricion de frutos de calabaza pipiana. Las secuencias obtenidas tuvieron 99 % de similitud con P. capsici en sandia de Estados Unidos y en calabaza de Italia, depositadas en el banco de genes (GenBank). Los ingredientes activos, propamocarb+fosetil y metalaxil+clorotalonil, mostraron control al retrasar seis dias la presencia del patogeno en frutos, mientras que los agentes de biocontrol la retardaron cuatro dias

The paper presents damage detection techniques for structural health monitoring of bridges incorporating computer vision derived measurements. The feasibility of the techniques is demonstrated on a numerical model of a bridge girder. The girder is subjected to a load induced by a slowly moving truck. Multiple damage scenarios are simulated. Damage detection is carried out on the four types of response (i.e., deflection, inclination angle, strain and curvature) computed from the numerical model. The robustness of vision measurement approach for damage detection is validated at different levels of added measurement noise. The noise is expressed as the pixel resolution achievable with the image processing algorithm at multiple camera field of views applied to target motions. Damage detection and location accuracies are influenced by damage extent, added measurement noise and type of response. The study shows that deflections and strains outperform inclination angles and curvatures detecting damages in noisy measurements. Strains are the best type of response for damage detection and location when high measurement resolutions (e.g., 1/500 pixels) can be achieved.

کم آبیاری یکی از راهکارهای بهینه سازی مصرف آب در اراضی فاریاب است. این آزمایش به منظور بررسی اثرات کم آبیاری بر رشد، عملکرد و صفات کیفی دو رقم گوجه فرنگی ((Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. به صورت فاکتوریل در قالب طرح بلوک های کامل تصادفی با سه تکرار در ایستگاه تحقیقات کشاورزی میاندوآب در سال زراعی 90-1389 انجام شد. تیمارهای آزمایشی شامل دو رقم گوجه فرنگیEarly Urbana111 و Rio grand و چهار تیمار کم آبیاری 60، 80، 100 و 120 میلی متر تبخیر از تشتک تبخیر کلاس A بود. نتایج نشان داد که تأثیر سطوح مختلف آبیاری بر شاخص های ارتفاع بوته، تعداد میوه درجه یک، وزن میوه، طول میوه، عملکرد کل، مواد جامد محلول، کلروفیل، لیکوپن، بتاکاروتن و EC میوه گوجه فرنگی در سطح احتمال پنج درصد معنی دار بود. ارقام مورد آزمایش نیز برای شاخص های EC میوه، لیکوپن و رنگ در سطح احتمال پنج درصد تفاوت معنی داری داشتند. بیشترین ارتفاع بوته (8/93 سانتی متر)، طول میوه (65/7 سانتی متر)، تعداد میوه بازارپسند (29/16)، میانگین وزن میوه (/174گرم در بوته) و عملکرد کل (3/8 کیلوگرم) از تیمار 60 میلی متر تبخیر از تشتک آبیاری و بیشترین مقدار بریکس (86/5)، عددکلروفیل متر (78/0) و لیکوپن (10/17درصد) در تیمار 120میلی متر تبخیر از تشتک آبیاری بود. به طور کلی، نتایج این آزمایش بیانگر آن است که کم آبیاری باعث کاهش شاخص های رویشی و افزایش کیفیت پس از برداشت ارقام گوجه فرنگی مورد آزمایش شد.

A avaliação de cultivares nas mesmas condições edafoclimáticas permite comparar genótipos quanto ao seu potencial de produtividade e qualidade de frutos, buscando os melhores para cada região. O trabalho objetivou avaliar o desempenho produtivo e a qualidade de frutos de híbridos de tomateiro cultivados de forma rasteira, visando a produção para processamento e mesa. O experimento foi conduzido em campo no município de Pinhão-PR, em dois anos agrícolas (2009/2010 e 2010/2011). O delineamento experimental consistiu em blocos casualizados com quatro repetições. Utilizou-se 10 híbridos de tomateiro (Supera, Granadero, AP-529, AP-533, Kátia, Laura, Fascínio, Tinto, Red Spring e Vênus). Avaliaram-se a produtividade total e comercial, massa média de frutos, frutos danificados, presença de pedúnculo e, características de qualidade (massa seca, firmeza, espessura de mesocarpo, sólidos solúveis, acidez titulável, relação sólidos solúveis/acidez titulável, pH, licopeno, ácido ascórbico e açúcares redutores). Houve destaque para o híbrido Granadero que apresentou maior produtividade total (112,5 t ha-1 em 2009/2010 e 78,5 t ha-1 em 2010/2011) e comercial (88,7 t ha-1 em 2009/2010 e 69,0 t ha-1 em 2010/2011) nos dois anos de experimento, bem como maior massa seca, maior teor de sólidos solúveis e maior espessura do mesocarpo. Tinto e Vênus também se destacaram na produtividade total e comercial e o híbrido com maior massa média foi Vênus (99,9 g). Na relação sólidos solúveis/acidez titulável, destacaram-se os híbridos Granadero, Vênus, Supera, Tinto e Fascínio, com valores acima de 10 em ambos os anos. Laura, Red Spring e Vênus apresentaram bons valores para ácido ascórbico e licopeno. Em geral, o híbrido com melhor desempenho para as características avaliadas e para ambos os segmentos foi Granadero, porém este híbrido demonstrou baixa estabilidade genotípica. Sendo assim, Vênus e Tinto, apesar das produtividades menores, poderiam ser recomendados, pois apresentaram boa qualidade e estabilidade para a região.

A machine vision-based instrument to measure a droplet size spectrum of a spray nozzle was developed and tested to evaluate its accuracy on measuring spray droplet sizes and classifying nozzle sizes.The instrument consisted of a machine vision, light emitting diode (LED) illumination and a desktop computer.The illumination and machine vision were controlled by the computer through a C++ program.The program controlled the machine vision to capture droplet images under controlled illumination, and processed the droplet images to characterize the droplet size distribution of a spray nozzle.An image processing algorithm was developed to improve the accuracy of the system by eliminating random noise and out-of-focus droplets in droplet images while measuring droplet sizes.The instrument measured sizes of the three different balls (254.0,497.8 and 793.8 µm) and the measurement ranges were 241.2-273.6 µm, 492.9-529.6 µm and 800.8-824.1 µm for 254.0-, 497.84-and 793.75-µm balls, respectively.Error of the measured droplet mean was less than 3.0 %.Droplet statistics, DV0.1, DV0.5 and DV0.9, of a reference nozzle set were measured, and droplet size spectra of five spray nozzles covering from very fine to extremely coarse were measured to classify spray nozzle sizes.Ninety percent of the classification results of the instrument agreed with manufacturer's classification.A comparison study was carried out between developed and commercial instruments, and measurement results of the developed instrument were within 20 % of commercial instrument results.

A novel approach is presented for the location of discrete targets images with subpixel accuracy. It can be adopted as first stage of any method that uses planar and no-planar grids with circular, square or cross shaped targets in order to calibrate close range cameras. The approach has been performed on several calibration sessions each of them followed by the three-dimensional reconstruction of a reference object that was previously measured through a coordinate measuring machine. The performance of the proposed approach has been expressed in terms of deviation between the reference coordinates and the corresponding ones provided by triangulation. The results obtained have also been compared with those achieved through ShapeCapture^TM, a software widely used in photogrammetry for camera calibration and 3D model reconstruction from images.

Machine vision system for grading of dried figs

How does one’s food environment affect food purchase decisions? Food access has received significant political and academic attention, particularly under the Obama administration. Existing literature on food access and “food deserts” mainly focuses on geographic distance or the retail of fresh fruits &amp; vegetables versus fast food within a neighborhood to determine and identify inequitable access. In this paper I attempt to develop an endogenous measure of food access by asking how geographic placement of food retail affects food expenditure, particularly of fruits &amp; vegetables. I use novel data on 886 households matched to food prices from a census of geocoded food retailers in Champaign County to approach this question from two perspectives. I first estimate the household’s share of grocery expenditures allocated to fresh, frozen, and canned fruits &amp; vegetables versus other grocery items. I then use data on a person’s residence and geocoded data on food retail locations in Champaign County to test for relationships between retailer proximity, and the share of expenditure on fruits &amp; vegetables. The next perspective uses a choice experiment to measure the tradeoff among store characteristics that determine where a consumer shops. The demand estimation reveals how much fruits &amp; vegetables a person is actually consuming, while the choice experiment reveals whether that individual is constrained in their consumption by their existing characteristic set of stores. I find that while proximity to a grocery store is positively correlated with healthier food consumption, policy response should focus on improving store quality and product quality to induce behavioral change. I further find policy response should be cognizant of endogenous locational sorting which may require alternative means to improve health other than changing the food geography.

A unmanned aerial vehicles applications in photogrammetry have increased rapidly last years. A fast data gathering and processing in real time in some cases become crucial and desired in some application. In the paper, a real time solution is proposed. A real time photogrammetry from UAV is proposed, where image data are gathered and processed on board UAV and finally reconstructed 3D model and measurements are delivered. The paper presents the design of sUAV (small unmanned air vehicle) for real time photogrammetry, visual navigation, real-time spectral data processing. Construction is based on newly designed quadcopter frame based on the experience and previous research, using CAD/CAM. No image data are transferred out of the board and overall photogrammetry process is calculated on board. Finally three dimensional measurements are delivered to the user in the same time, as sUAV flies, or in specified time just after the sUAV has landed.