How the Collective Intelligence Behind TrueAI Can Improve the Potato Grading Performance

Potato producers and packers sometimes faced several challenges in the last few years. Batch characteristics vary; nonetheless, beneficiaries’ needs remained consistently high.
Each potato is unique. So is every flaw. Internal and exterior defects can manifest in a variety of ways. This makes it difficult to spot certain deficiencies. Some of the grading technology available has some particular issues in handling the wide variety of fault combinations, limiting the producers’ and packers’ potato batches’ full potential.
When it comes to the novel technologies available, grading jobs may be completed with a minimum of workers, grading performance improves and detection accuracy approaches 100%. The innovative systems can now manage many of the grading settings that the operator had previously set up.
AI offers chances to improve the grading process through intelligent automation. This technology takes over complicated jobs from people, allowing for previously unachievable answers. Ellips True-AI (AI-based on powerful deep learning algorithms) can help potato producers and packers enhance their grading ability by providing more accurate and consistent results.
According to experts, the new technology proved outstanding grading improvements with the most challenging defects such as wireworm, compression bruising, and mechanical damage.
“In addition to increasing production (i.e., tons/hr) and decreasing labor costs (i.e., virtually eliminating manual sorting requirements), our TrueAi (Deep Leaning) technology helps our customers deliver consistent quality to their customers,” John Albert, General Manager, Ellips, USA, told Potato Business.
He added that his company’s TrueAi solution significantly improves grading accuracy through superior detection of complex defects and produce characteristics.
“With defect detection accuracy approaching 100%, grading and sorting tasks can be done with minimal staff. Our customers can also be assured that each piece of produce ends up at its rightful destination thus ensuring maximum returns for the grower while providing the consistent quality desired by their customers,” Albert declared.
For the beneficiaries of the Ellips grading & sorting technology, TrueAI is an upgrade that can be easily added to their existing system.
“For customers who are looking to upgrade their lines with new grading and sorting technology, Ellips’ turnkey potato grading & sorting solution (including TrueAI) can be integrated into the existing lines, including all wash lines and packing equipment,” John Albert explained.
He also mentioned that by delivering automated and optimized grading algorithms, TrueAi will help to simplify a system operator’s tasks and thus provide more time for those individuals to focus on other important operational issues within the packing house.
“ ’Seeing the unseen’ is our tagline that helps to express what we do well – ‘seeing’/detecting the quality attributes of fresh produce (i.e., size, color, external defects, internal defects, etc.) so that our customers have the ability to optimize the value of each piece of produce while quickly responding to the dynamic needs of the market and their customers,” he summed up.
True-AI algorithms are built by analyzing massive quantities of data from various potato types collected all around the world. It is created from hundreds of thousands of reference photos. True-AI will be constantly enhanced with data as new defect data is added regularly. This information is gathered from the company’s extensive worldwide client base over various seasons and growth circumstances.