Fruit inspection technology, developed
by Dr. Yang Tao, solves a problem that defied solution by
other researchers for 25 years. It uses infrared and near-infrared
imaging to distinguish the stem-end and calyx of fruit from
true defects. Earlier infrared systems could not make the
distinction and showed everything as defects. In Dr. Tao's
machine, the near-infrared camera sees only the stem-end and
calyx (flowering end) of the apples. He developed software
that subtracts those images from those made simultaneously
by a camera that records middle infrared light. Now this machine
has been applied in industry. |