Rice Sorter

Project Title

Rice Sorter

Project Area of Specialization Artificial IntelligenceProject Summary

The main idea behind the project Rice Sorter is to reduce the hectic work of the workforce on rice grading with high accuracy. It is also impossible for humans to accurately inspect impurities on a large scale. This project will minimize the time loss and also reduces the amount of work required to sort the rice. Rice is taken as an example but the project will be equally helpful to other types of grains or fruits that need to be sorted, in the future. The only need will be to train the machine learning models for the specific type of object that needs to be sorted.

Project Objectives

In this project, the challenge is to build a machine that could sort rice mix into two different piles. We have to use electronics as a device to help the machine works as a functional machine that could automatically sort the grains. Constraints are that it must be dimensional, include electronics, could only touch the machine once to make it work, and it must complete the task that was given. However, just like any other things, percentage of tolerance must be considered. 

The task of sorting is to be based upon the use of machine learning.

Project Implementation Method

1. Input material is loaded in the sorter via in-feed hopper.

2. With the help of vibration the material flows along the chute (an inclined plane or horizontal plane with moving belt) to the distribution channels.

3. Then the product gets into the inspection zone, where is checked by the cameras.

4. Cameras, having capture the picture of selected material, are processed with the Personal Computer.

5. Depending on the signals received the computer control system sends the command to open the ejector which blows away the material based on color.

6. The desired product directly flows into the goods product hopper.

7. The rejected is blown off to the discharging hopper.

8. Re-pass option ensuring more accurate sorting of the grain and minimizing losses of the good product.

The more detailed on the methodology for each component is provided as follows:

1: User Interface

• Feeding hopper
• Finished product outlets

2: Hardware Interface

• Grains will fall on a chute from a collector.
• Grains will fall in two collectors.
• Ejectors will be connected to Arduino and will act according to Arduino’s Signal.
• PC will send the signal to the Arduino
• Video input will be taken from camera in real time from a moving chute.

3: Software Interface

• OpenCV will be used to process images.
• Database

4: Communication Interface:

Cable will be used as medium of communication between camera and software. This cable will transfer video from camera to PC. There would also be communication between PC to Arduino and Arduino to Solenoid valves. (System working is explained in following figure).

6: System Features:

This section illustrates organizing the functional requirements for the project RICE SORTER by system features:-

• Video Acquisition: The system to acquire video from camera mounted on some support.

• Video Pr e-Processing: The system will acquire the best images from the video.
• Control: Solenoid valves are controlled with the help of PC and Arduino.
• Blow the crude product: The crude product would be blown by the solenoid valves. 
• Check for the product: The system will crude product and low quality kernels on the acquired images.

Component assembly is explained in following figure.

6.1 Video Acquisition:

This feature enables the system to acquire video from camera. This video is acquired with the help of RJ45 connector from camera to the personal compute. This video will be fed into the system for further processing.

6.2 Video Processing:

This feature identifies best images from acquired video as input for further operations.

6.3: Check for impurities

The images obtained from previous stage will be used to identify crude product.

6.4: Blow the impurities:

Impurities are blown with the help of ejectors.

Benefits of the Project

For Daily Use

            The RICE SORTER is for daily use and this is the most important class for this machine. It not only saves time but saves you from restless work. Moreover, Because of simplicity there is not much training of the user required.

For commercial Use

            RICE SORTER idea is highly effective in commercial domain where on large scale human are ineffective in terms of money, time and quality than of RICE SORTER.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

Hardware:

The RICE SORTER operates with the following hardware:

• Chute: A horizontal sliding chute which can drive all material moving.
• Camera: The camera is used to make video of the falling rice. (7 megapixel ip camera)
• Cable: The data (video feed) will be transferred from camera using cable to the Laptop/PC.(RJ45 or registered jack 45 connector)
• Laptop/PC: Laptop/PC will process the data received from the camera and identify the bad quality kernels and impurities.
• Arduino: It will receive the signal from Laptop/PC and forward it to Ejectors.     (Arduino UNO)
• Air Pump: It is required to generate air pressure which is use by Solenoid Ejectors. (15-30 PSI electric air pump)
• Solenoid Ejectors: It will use to blow the bad product. (4v210-08 pneumatic valve or latest of this series)
• Transistor: It will be used in the circuit of arduino and solenoid valve. (TIP420)

Software:

• Windows
• Python3
• Anaconda
• imgaug

Final Deliverable of the Project HW/SW integrated systemCore Industry FoodOther Industries Agriculture , Others Core Technology Artificial Intelligence(AI)Other Technologies OthersSustainable Development Goals Good Health and Well-Being for People, Industry, Innovation and InfrastructureRequired Resources

Item Name	Type	No. of Units	Per Unit Cost (in Rs)	Total (in Rs)
			Total in (Rs)	78300
Solenoid Valve	Equipment	7	3500	24500
Camera 7 mega pixels	Equipment	1	25000	25000
Arduino UNO	Equipment	2	800	1600
Air Cylinder	Equipment	2	2500	5000
Transistor and Relays	Equipment	4	500	2000
Moving Chute	Equipment	2	3000	6000
Wood Box(Container)	Equipment	1	4200	4200
Photocopy+travelling	Miscellaneous	1	10000	10000