Compact multispectral imaging system for contaminant detection on poultry carcass

Abstract

The objective of this research was to design and fabricate a compact, cost effective multispectral instrument and to collect and analyze spectra for real-time contaminant detection for poultry processing plants. The prototype system developed in this research consisted of a multispectral imaging system, illumination system and an industrial portable computer. The dual-band spectral imaging system developed in this study was a two-port imaging system that consisted of two identical monochrome cameras, optical system and two narrow bandpass filters whose center of the wavelength are 520 and 560 nm with 10 nm FWHM, respectively. A spectral reflectance from a chicken carcass was collected and split in two directions by an optical system including a beamsplitter and lenses, and then two identical collimated lights were filtered by the narrow bandpass filters and delivered to the cameras. Lens distortions and geometric misalignment of the two cameras were mathematically corrected. The prototype system was tested at the real-time processing line and the preliminary results showed that the dual-band spectral imaging system could effectively detect feces and ingesta on the surface of poultry carcass.