Inspection and grading of agricultural and food products by computer vision systems - a review

Computer vision is a rapid, economic, consistent and objective inspection technique, which has expanded into many diverse industries. Its speed and accuracy satisfy ever-increasing production and quality requirements, hence aiding in the development of totally automated processes. This non-destructive method of inspection has found applications in the agricultural and food industry, including the inspection and grading of fruit and vegetable. It has also been used successfully in the analysis of grain characteristics and in the evaluation of foods such as meats, cheese and pizza. This paper reviews the progress of computer vision in the agricultural and food industry, then identifies areas for further research and wider application the technique. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.