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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Cotton Production and Processing Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #354112

Research Project: Enhancing the Profitability and Sustainability of Upland Cotton, Cottonseed, and Agricultural Byproducts through Improvements in Pre- and Post-Harvest Processing

Location: Cotton Production and Processing Research

Title: Plastic contamination sensor and removal system development

Author
item Pelletier, Mathew
item Whitelock, Derek
item Armijo, Carlos
item Funk, Paul
item GARCIA, JUAN - University Of Texas At San Antonio
item Gray, Marcus
item BADER, IVAN - University Of Texas At San Antonio
item TAPIA CARRILLO, ANDRES - University Of Texas At San Antonio

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/31/2018
Publication Date: 7/31/2018
Citation: Pelletier, M.G., Whitelock, D.P., Armijo, C.B., Funk, P.A., Garcia, J.P., Gray, M.R., Bader, I., Tapia Carrillo, A. 2018. Plastic contamination sensor and removal system development. Meeting Abstract. online p.39. https://www.asabe.org/Portals/0/18AIM-part2-technical.pdf?ver=2018-08-20-205035-733

Interpretive Summary: This research report covers the development of a real-time embedded sensor for detection and removal of plastic contamination in cotton processing. As the main objective of this research is to develop a low-cost sensor suitable for installation of 40-100 sensors per cotton gin; this research examines ways to reduce the cost of a typical machine-vision setup, costing in excess of $2000-$4000 for each imaging node. System performance for detection-ejection, with a pneumatic blow-off ejection system, was tested for plastic contamination sourced from yellow John Deere cotton module wraps. Also tested for comparison was a new experimental color that is farther removed from normal cotton colors, fluorescent green.

Technical Abstract: This research report covers the development of a real-time embedded sensor for detection and removal of plastic contamination in cotton processing. As the main objective of this research is to develop a low-cost sensor suitable for installation of 40-100 sensors per cotton gin; this research examines ways to reduce the cost of a typical machine-vision setup, costing in excess of $2000-$4000 for each imaging node. System performance for detection-ejection, with a pneumatic blow-off ejection system, was tested for plastic contamination sourced from yellow John Deere cotton module wraps. Also tested for comparison was a new experimental color that is farther removed from normal cotton colors, fluorescent green.