A sensor for continuous fruit classification using Rician k-factor

The quality control in fruit industry is more and more demanded. For thick-peel fruit like durian, the UHF and microwave frequency bands are suitable. For a large number of fruits to be classified, a continuous process is desirable. The system using Rician k-factor has been analyzed and found to be feasible. This paper presents design and experimental results that describe the feature of a sensor system for fruit classification in a continuous process. The results show that the Rician k-factors from a single frequency-monostatic and wideband-bistatic measurements can be used as indicators for classifying maturity stage of durian fruits.