IMPACT DETECTION IN POTATO HANDLING LINES WITH SENSORS BASED ON TRI-AXIAL ACCELEROMETERS

In this work the use of “electronic potatoes” is evaluated as a way to detect the mechanical impacts on potatoes, caused by commonly used types of storehouse handling lines.
Two different impact-detecting sensors – also known as “electronic potatoes”- were used in the tests: the PTR 200 (SM Engineering, Denmark) and the IRD 400 (Techmark Inc., USA). The experiments were carried out in four grading and packing centres in the main potato production area of the Northwest of Spain.
The four storehouses were equipped with different machines.
The tests were focussed on the determination of (1) the number and type of drops, (2) the drop heights, (3) the transportation velocity, (4) the velocity changes and (5) the changes in direction of transportation.
The impact data obtained from the two electronic potatoes were able to detect transfer points susceptible to cause damage to the potatoes in three of the storehouses.
Not the same transfer points were detected by both sensors, but the behaviour of the electronic potatoes showed a good simulation of real potatoes in the different elements of the handling lines.

V International Postharvest Symposium

J. Expido, J. Bueno, T. Van Canneyt

instrumented potato, impact damage, potato storehouses, electronic potato, drop heights

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2005.682.148