Entry No. 004
Junior (under 14)/ Senior (14 and above)
Senior (14 and above)
Category
6.2.1.1(4) Convenience
Classification
C. combination
Country / Region Thailand
Name of Invention/Artwork Automatic Durian Ripeness Measurement Device Using a Temperature Sensor in a Numerical Format
Outline of the entry
Title:
Automatic Durian Ripeness Measurement Device Using a Temperature Sensor in a Numerical Format
Introduction:
Durian is a major economic fruit of Thailand, contributing substantially to national revenue through exports. However, challenges persist regarding inconsistent ripeness levels, resulting from inaccuracies during manual selection. To address this, an automatic measurement device employing temperature sensors is developed to evaluate ripeness quantitatively.
Objectives:
1. To investigate the relationship between internal temperature, ambient temperature, and durian ripeness.
2. To analyze the correlation between durian size and internal temperature.
3. To assess the effect of time on changes in durian ripeness.
4. To evaluate the performance of the temperature sensor-based ripeness device.
Materials:
Refractometer (Brix Meter)
GY-906 Infrared Temperature Sensor
GY-213V HDC1080 Temperature and Humidity Sensor
Arduino Uno R3 Microcontroller
GY-3 Fruit Sclerometer
Monthong Durian Variety
Methodology:
Internal and ambient temperatures were measured alongside sweetness and firmness assessments using specialized instruments. Correlations and regression models were established to quantify ripeness levels.
Results:
Internal temperature was found to increase as durians ripened, then slightly decrease upon overripeness due to peel rupture and heat dissipation. Size variation showed minimal impact on ripeness when internal temperatures were similar. A regression equation between sweetness and temperature was derived as Y = 3.5084X + 1.6876 with R = 0.9125. The relationship between internal and ambient temperatures was characterized by y = 0.9176x + 0.1041 with a coefficient of determination R² = 0.998.
Conclusion:
The developed device demonstrated high accuracy in numerically evaluating durian ripeness, offering a reliable tool to enhance quality assurance in durian trade and export.
Characteristics of the entry
There are areas where shortage of … With this device, it is possible to …Characteristics of the Entry:
The developed device is an automatic durian ripeness measurement system utilizing temperature sensors to assess ripeness levels numerically. It integrates an infrared temperature sensor (GY-906) for measuring the internal temperature of durian and an environmental temperature and humidity sensor (GY-213V HDC1080) to account for ambient conditions. The system employs a microcontroller (Arduino Uno R3) for data processing and analysis. By combining multiple measurements, including sweetness and firmness assessed through a Brix meter and a fruit sclerometer, the device enhances the accuracy of ripeness evaluation. The innovation offers real-time data display, high portability, user-friendly operation, and the capability to minimize human error in durian selection, thereby ensuring better quality control for trade and export.
Background of the Entry and Problem to be Solved by the Entry:
Durian is a major agricultural export product of Thailand, generating substantial revenue. However, the industry faces ongoing issues concerning the inconsistent quality of exported durians, particularly due to immature fruits being mixed with mature ones. This inconsistency largely stems from human errors during manual selection processes, leading to significant economic losses and a damaged international reputation. Traditional ripeness assessment methods rely heavily on experience and subjective judgment, which are prone to variability. To address these challenges, an automatic durian ripeness measurement device was developed. By providing objective, quantifiable evaluations of ripeness based on internal temperature correlations, the device reduces reliance on subjective assessments and enhances the consistency and quality of durians designated for export.
Demonstration details
Hardware: Function, Structure, Action, Effects, etc.
1. Refractometer (Brix meter):
Function: Measures the sugar content (brix value) in durian by assessing the refractive index of the juice.
Structure: Typically a handheld device with a small glass prism and a scale or digital display to indicate the brix value.
Action: Place a drop of durian juice on the prism, and the device calculates the sugar concentration based on the refraction of light.
Effect: Determines the sweetness level of durian, which is crucial for evaluating ripeness.
2. GY-906 Infrared Temperature Sensor Module:
Function: Measures the temperature of the durian fruit non-contact via infrared radiation.
Structure: A small, compact module with an infrared sensor and microcontroller for data processing.
Action: Points the sensor at various parts of the durian fruit, it detects temperature by absorbing infrared radiation emitted by the fruit.
Effect: Helps monitor the internal temperature of durian, which correlates with its ripeness.
3. GY-213V HDC1080 Temperature and Humidity Module:
Function: Measures the ambient temperature and humidity of the environment.
Structure: A small, integrated sensor that includes a temperature sensor and humidity sensor on a single chip.
Action: It provides real-time data about the surrounding environment, crucial for understanding how external factors affect durian ripeness.
Effect: Ensures that temperature readings from the durian are accurate by providing reference environmental data.
4. Arduino Uno R3 Microcontroller Board:
Function: Acts as the central control unit for collecting and processing data from the sensors.
Structure: A microcontroller board with digital and analog input/output pins for sensor connections, along with a USB interface for programming.
Action: Receives temperature, humidity, and sweetness data from the sensors, processes this data, and outputs it to a display or graph.
Effect: Coordinates the data collection and performs necessary calculations or conversions, facilitating analysis.
5. GY-3 Fruit Sclerometer:
Function: Measures the firmness or texture of the durian flesh to assess ripeness.
Structure: A probe with a sensor that penetrates the durian flesh to measure its resistance to penetration.
Action: Insert the probe into the durian to measure its firmness, providing data for evaluating the texture.
Effect: Helps in determining the physical ripeness of durian, especially in terms of the fruit’s internal consistency.
Software: Operation, Process, Effects, etc.
1. Sensor Integration Software:
Operation: The software manages the communication between the Arduino board and the various sensors (temperature, humidity, sweetness, and firmness sensors).
Process: It receives real-time data from the sensors, converts the readings into usable values (e.g., temperature in Celsius, brix in percentage), and stores them for analysis.
Effect: The software processes and organizes the sensor data, allowing easy comparison of different parameters related to durian ripeness.
2. Graphing and Data Analysis Software:
Operation: This software takes the data from the Arduino system and plots graphs to visualize the relationships between temperature, sweetness, firmness, and ripeness.
Process: Data is inputted into the software, and it generates graphical representations of relationships (e.g., a scatter plot for temperature vs. sweetness).
Effect: Helps researchers and farmers identify the correlation between sensor data and the ripeness stages of durian, facilitating better decision-making for harvesting and exporting.
Other notes about the entry (if any)
1. Limitations: The experiment was conducted under controlled conditions with limited time and resources. The number of durians tested was also constrained by availability, which may affect the generalizability of the results.
2. Suggestions for Future Improvements: Future studies could expand the range of durian varieties tested to examine whether the ripeness measurement system applies universally. Additionally, testing could be done over a longer period to account for any long-term temperature fluctuations and their impact on ripening.
3. Further Development: To enhance the accuracy of the ripeness measurement system, incorporating more advanced sensors or integrating machine learning algorithms could improve prediction capabilities, making the system more precise and adaptable.
Information on patent, utility model, trademark, etc. application
Number of Team Members
2
Student
Master Nopparat Changkaew January 17, 2009 nopparatchangkaew42@gmail.com
Master Thongtham Khoaniawklang January 5, 2008 tongtum6573@gmail.com