AI-driven food sorting robot for peach processing
Our integration partner QING developed an advanced Robovision AI-powered system that fully automates the sorting process of peaches on a conveyor belt. The innovative system analyzes and sorts peaches at a rate of more than 1,000 pieces per minute, with a precision that surpasses manual sorting.
Robovision's scalable AI platform allows us to create, implement and maintain AI models within food production in an accessible way. This provides opportunities for food production companies to use the application themselves without relying on outside expertise.
Teun Keusters, Technical specialist at QING
Automated quality control
Agrophoenix, based in Greece, is a leading company in the fruit processing sector, specializing in processing peaches into consumer products. The company approached engineering company QING because they needed a solution to optimize product quality, minimize food waste, and automate quality control to address labor shortage. Automation would also increase efficiency and reduce production and personnel costs.
Integrating the Robovision AI platform
QING partnered with Robovision and developed a Vision AI application using the Robovision AI platform to automate the peach sorting process. They tested the integration of various units, including lighting with cameras, robotic arms and conveyors, and installed the control software supporting our AI platform.
Qualify and sort peaches
Setting up and training the Vision AI algorithms was partially performed at QING in the development lab. Then, the system was shipped, rebuilt, and tested at the end customer's site. The application was trained to qualify and sort the peaches for abnormalities, such as remaining peach kernels or a crushed peach.
Meeting high quality standards
Today, the machine works at a processing speed of more than 1,000 peaches per minute, recognizing and sorting the peaches that don’t meet quality standards with greater accuracy than manual control. This not only provides savings on labor costs, but also ensures consistent product quality, resulting in a very positive customer experience.
Inspection and sorting applications
QING has developed the advanced STAQ Automation Framework- 'See, Think, Act'- specifically designed for inspection and sorting applications. Vision AI technology, powered by the Robovision platform, enables the 'Think' step of this framework. It optimizes and automates the entire sorting process. For the project at Agrophoenix, extensive testing has been conducted on the integration of various components, such as precision lighting, high-resolution cameras, robotic arms, and conveyor and tracking systems. Additionally, the control software has been implemented, providing strong support for the AI-driven platform and ensuring smooth, efficient operational workflows.
Maintain AI models within food production
QING enables food producers to apply vision AI in an accessible way, integrating Robovision’s scalable AI platform to easily train, implement, and maintain AI models within food production. QING's approach is centered around collaboration: they work together on a solution and provide support in using the Vision AI platform. This allows companies to gain knowledge and experience with AI, with the right guidance, after which they can adopt the technology at their own pace and maintain control.