Automated X-ray & Laser Imaging System for Detecting Bone Fragments on Poultry De-boning Lines

Health-conscious Americans have increased their consumption of white meat. Boneless poultry now represents 48% of the USs annual 46.9 billion pounds of poultry products. With increasing consumer demand, poultry processors strive to improve quality, efficiency, product safety, and productivity. Processors are especially concerned about bone fragments and hazardous materials embedded in fillets which pose health risks to consumers. During Phase I and previous NRI research, we developed a synergistic x-ray and laser imaging technology to accurately detect bone fragments. Successful Phase I results proved that combining x-ray and laser vision technologies into a fully functional automated x-ray and laser vision detection system for poultry plant on-line bone fragment detection is highly feasible. Phase IIs objective is to fill the gap between the fundamental research and practical R and D for an industrially viable automated system which will meet both FDA radiation protection and USDA food safety requirements. Our tasks include: (1) developing a full-scale multi-thread image processing architecture to maximize system throughput to implement high-speed electronics and algorithms, (2) developing an essential automatic calibration system to ensure reliability and robustness of the x-ray and laser imaging detection systems expanded field view; and (3) developing userfriendly interfaces for the detection systems convenient and secure operation and control. This project will lead to an industry-ready commercializable system technology for sensitive and accurate detection of bone fragments and hazardous materials on poultry de-boning lines. Our success will enhance the poultry industrys ability to deliver quality, safe, and costeffective poultry products to American consumers.