Spectral-imaging specialist Headwall Photonics (Fitchburg, MA) and well-known cranberry-products maker Ocean Spray (Lakeville-Middleboro, MA) are collaborating to test new spectral-imaging/machine-vision technologies targeted at providing Ocean Spray with the techniques necessary to improve product quality and agricultural yield.
The inspection platform includes a new class of machine-vision inspection capabilities introduced by Headwall that offer real-time assessment of product quality for many different types of agricultural-processing applications.
Headwall draws upon its many years as an instrument supplier to the U.S. Department of Defense, as well as to civilian organizations such as NASA, the Treasury Department, and the Environmental Protection Agency; the company produces customized multispectral and hyperspectral technology for high-performance, real-time commercial and industrial applications.
"Ocean Spray has a long history of innovation within the agricultural industry," says David Bannon, CEO of Headwall. "We are pleased to work with Ocean Spray to develop machine-vision sensors that offer unique inspection capability as well as the opportunity to introduce precision agriculture techniques for improved agricultural yield and product quality."
Such close integration of machine vision and spectral imaging could be of benefit to many agricultural industries.
For more info on Headwall and its spectral-imaging/machine-vision development, see: http://www.headwallphotonics.com/applications/advanced-machine-vision/