SWIR imaging agriculture
2025-03-28

SWiR imaging in agriculture

Ensuring the quality of agricultural produce like apples and potatoes is paramount for meeting market standards and consumer expectations. Traditional inspection methods, primarily reliant on visual assessments, are time-consuming and susceptible to human error.

Advancements in imaging technology, particularly Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) systems, have revolutionised quality control in the food industry.

Blog
Basler SWIR imaging

Detection of Foreign Materials:

SWIR technology enhances the differentiation between produce and contaminants. For instance, distinguishing between a potato and an adjacent stone becomes more straightforward, ensuring that foreign materials are effectively identified and removed during processing.

Basler SWIR imaging

Identification of Subsurface Defects:

Even minor, inconspicuous bruises or pressure points beneath the surface of fruits are detectable with SWIR imaging. This capability allows for early identification of defects that might otherwise go unnoticed, facilitating timely intervention to maintain product quality.
Basler SWIR imaging

Assessment of Ripeness and Sugar Content:

SWIR technology enables the evaluation of internal attributes such as sugar content, which is indicative of ripeness. This assessment aids in determining the optimal harvest time and ensures that only produce meeting specific quality criteria reaches consumers

Advantages of SWIR Imaging in Agriculture

SWIR imaging offers a multitude of benefits for the agricultural sector:

Enhanced Defect Detection:

SWIR technology penetrates the surface of produce, revealing subsurface bruising and imperfections that are not visible to the naked eye. This capability ensures that only top-quality products reach consumers.

Foreign Object Identification:

The distinct reflective properties in the SWIR spectrum enable clear differentiation between produce and contaminants such as stones or debris, facilitating more effective sorting and reducing contamination risks.

Ripeness and Sugar Content Assessment:

SWIR imaging can assess the internal composition of fruits, providing insights into sugar content and ripeness levels. This information aids in determining optimal harvest times and sorting produce based on quality metrics.

A robust SWIR inspection system comprises several key components:

SWIR Cameras: High-performance cameras capable of capturing images in the SWIR spectrum are essential. These cameras should offer high resolution and sensitivity to detect subtle defects and variations.

Specialised Lenses: Lenses optimized for the SWIR wavelength range ensure that images are sharp and free from distortions, which is crucial for accurate analysis.

Appropriate Lighting: Consistent and uniform illumination in the SWIR spectrum enhances image quality, making defects and impurities more detectable.

Image Processing Software: Advanced software tools analyse the captured images, identifying and categorizing defects, assessing ripeness, and facilitating real-time decision-making in sorting and quality control processes.

Contact [email protected] to discuss your complete SWiR system

swir range
Contact us
If you need any help, you can contact us in one of the following ways:
0116 284 9900
Send e-mail
Use live chat
Do you need help?
Logo

Cookie settings for OEM.CO.UK

Cookies help us improve your experience with us, so in order to be able to handle login information, offer you personalised content and for basic functionality of this website, we use some cookies.

We will never sell on any information about you. 

You can accept all cookies or personalise your cookies preferences, you can also change your cookie preferences at any time by visiting our contact page.

Necessary Cookies

These cookies are necessary for the website to work and can not be turned off in our systems. They are usually used only in response to actions you have taken in connection with a service request, for example when setting personal preferences, logging in or filling out a form.

Analysis and measurement cookies

These cookies allow us to count the number of visits and traffic sources so that we can measure and improve our website performance. They help us know which pages are more or less popular and how visitors navigate around the site. The information that these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore completely anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies, we do not know when you have visited our website.

Marketing cookies

These cookies can be added by our partners. They can use them to create a profile of you, based on your interests, to show you more relevant information. They do not store any personal information - only information about your browser and device. If you do not accept these cookies, you will have a more general and less customized user experience.