Lemon Grading and Sorting Using Computer Vision

This paper presents an automatic system for sorting and grading lemons using computer vision. It eliminates human errors in sorting processes. Lemons are sorted into three categories; ripe, semi-ripe, and a combined class of defective and unripe. A camera is used to capture an image of the lemon, and image analysis is done using Raspberry Pi. A conveyor belt system and a mechanical pusher put the lemon into its respective class.

Pre-folding fracturing in a foredeep environment: insights from the Carseolani Mountains (central Apennines, Italy)

Bedding-perpendicular joints striking parallel (longitudinal) and perpendicular (transverse) to both the axis of the hosting anticline and the trend of the foredeep-belt system are widely recognized in fold-and-thrust belts. Their occurrence has been commonly attributed to folding-related processes, such as syn-folding outer-arc extension, although they can also be consistent with a pre-folding foredeep-related fracturing stage. Here we report the pre-folding fracture pattern affecting the Pietrasecca Anticline, in the central Apennines (Italy), resolved by a detailed field structural analysis. Field observations, scan-lines and interpretation of virtual outcrops were used to study the intensity, distribution and the orientations of fracture pattern along the anticline. The fracture pattern of the Pietrasecca Anticline consists of longitudinal and transverse joints, oriented approximately perpendicular to bedding, and of a pre-folding longitudinal pressure-solution cleavage set, which is oblique to bedding regardless of the bedding dip. Cross-cutting relationships show that joints predated the development of the pressure-solution cleavage. Furthermore, joint intensity does not relate to the structural position along the anticline. Taken together, these observations suggest that jointing occurred in a foredeep environment before the Pietrasecca Anticline growth. Our work further demonstrates that joints striking parallel and orthogonal to the main fold axis do not necessarily represent syn-folding deformation structures.

Towards accurate non-contact moisture inspection using THz imaging and thickness information

This study proposes an approach for a non-contact moisture inspection in dried food products, which is crucial to maintain optimal quality and shelf-life, using terahertz (THz) signal. To achieve this, a sample-specific calibration curve needs to be determined first. HAITAI crackers were chosen in this work for demonstration purposes. Fifteen stacks of crackers with different heights were prepared and moisturized by covering with a wet tissue paper for different time periods, resulting in moisture levels between 3 and 40% R.H.. Then, each sample was placed on a conveyor belt system between a THz source and THz a detector, and transmitted signal was measured 5 times. After that, moisture percentage of the sample was determined based on a gravimetric method, whose results served as a ground-truth measurement. A thickness of the sample was also measured using a vernier. All signal measurements, together with their corresponding known thicknesses and moisture percentages, were used to calculate necessary coefficients that define a sample-specific calibration curve. Once a calibration curve for the cracker was obtained, it was used to estimate the moisture percentages in samples with different thicknesses. Mean absolute error (MAE) of the moisture percentage is found to be less than 12% when the sample thickness is modelled as part of the calibration curve, which is over 50 times less compared to the case when the sample thickness is not modelled. Therefore, the utilization of an automatic thickness determination would be promising for real-time and accurate non-contact moisture inspection. This approach can be also integrated into a production line to improve quality control in the food industry without interrupting existing processes.

Failure Rate Prediction of Belt Conveyor Systems using 2-parameter Weibull distribution

The conveyor belt is one of the most operational critical equipment’s in the mining industry, they are mostly used in the transportation of crushed materials from the crushing station to where there’ll be further processed. Due to the increasing complexity of belt conveyor systems, managing their integrity has become even more difficult, as they are now used across various industries, environments and carry materials of different weight variations, leaving them susceptible to failures (1). This paper provides an industry specific knowledge on how Weibull analysis can be used to predict the failure rate of a conveyor belt system, using parameters such as the time to failure (TTF), installation and failure dates, as determinant parameters for the predictions. Several Weibull failure distributions and functions have been used to establish accuracy of results and to create comparisons on the different ways in which risk, unreliability and availability are quantified, using calculated values such as the Shape and scale parameter. The paper utilizes real world case studies in the area of mining, which sheds light on key component failures and their cut sets within the conveyor belt system (2) Keywords: TTF, TTR, Threshold parameter, Repair date, Shape parameter, B10, B15, B20, Scale parameter, ECA, CDF, PDF

Comparative analysis of Wall Belt Systems, Shear Core Outrigger Systems and Truss Belt Systems on Residential Apartment

The outrigger structural system is one of the horizontal load resisting systems. In this system the belt truss ties all the external columns on the periphery of the structure and the outriggers connect these belt trusses to the central core of the structure thus restraining the exterior columns from rotation. The shear wall was implemented to oppose lateral loads. To complete these characteristic the Outrigger & wall belt system used in the structure. In this project a G+10 Storey structure has analysed using seven different cases named as RA1 to RA7-OTB. 1 to 7 indicates single outrigger system, shear core outrigger system truss belt support system with optimized trusses, at various locations under seismic zone III. The built up area used for various case as 315 sq. m. After performing result analysis, the comparative analysis of all the cases shows that the most efficient case for the above study is Case RA4. Here for efficiency of the project, two types of optimized truss belt support which has performed well and observed as most optimized and correspondingly minimum in all the cases. Keywords: Truss wall belt support, core wall belt support, outrigger, wall belt, CSI-ETABS, multi-storey

Leader-Follower Multimotor Speed Coordination via Adaptive Fuzzy Multiagent Consensus Scheme

Coordinated speed of interconnected motors has vast application in the industry. Typically, the smooth operation of the system relies on the coordinated speed of the multiple motors such as the conveyer belt system. Thus, the problem to have coordinated speed in a network-connected motor is mostly dealt with wire-connected architectures such as cross coupling. The presented study suggests a unique design to deal with the said problem by proposing a network model consisting of a DC chopper drive, termed as an ith agent of a network, while a leader-follower multiagent consensus algorithm is used, in a supervisory role, to ensure coordinated speed. Moreover, a hybrid controller (Fuzzy MRAC-RST), composed of Fuzzy logic controller, pole placement controller (F-RST), along with model reference adaptive controller (MRAC), is used to control the ith agent. The proposed hybrid controller along with MAS consensus algorithm forms an adaptive tracking performance and ensure coordinated speed. The MATLAB platform is used for simulation purpose, and the obtained results validate the design concept.

Design of a wheeled wall climbing robot based on the performance of bio-inspired dry adhesive material

Inspired by gecko’s adhesive feet, a wheeled wall climbing robot is designed in this paper with the synchronized gears and belt system acting as the wheels by considering both motion efficiency and adhesive capability. Adhesion of wheels is obtained by the bio-inspired adhesive material wrapping on the outer surface of wheels. A ducted fan mounted on the back of the robot supplies thrust force for the adhesive material to generate normal and shear adhesion force whilemoving on vertical surfaces. Experimental verification of robot climbing on vertical flat surface was carried out. The stability and the effect of structure design parameters were analyzed.

Vehicle occupant safety development with finite element method

Crash tests of vehicles are specified by government programs. This laws are includes only minimum requirements for individual components. Therefore additional consumer protection load cases have been developed by independent private institutes. Finite element method simulations can reduce development periods and the number of cost-intensive real crash tests. The goals of the calculations are that the early detection of component failure, the protection of occupants or pedestrians. The biggest challenge of the future, in the field of vehicle occupant safety is the interaction of the airbags and belt system with dummy by the electric vehicles, which have the concept of autonomous driving function. The aim of the research is to investigate this area using a simulation model.