OPTIMIZATION OF LINE-SCAN IMAGING SPECTROGRAPH FOR ONLINE FOOD INSPECTION

The overall objectives are to join the resources and expertise of ARS and the Cooperator to refine and enhance the optics and spectrometer/spectrograph components of the line-scan hyperspectral/multispectral and/or multi-channel image-based inspection systems. The spectroscopic imaging techniques in use include fluorescence, visible/near-infrared, near infrared, and short wave infrared reflectance spanning the spectrum range from 380 nm to 2500 nm. The goal is to optimize and ruggedize the optical and spectrographic components of the FSL line-scan imaging-based inspection systems suitable for operation in harsh commercial processing environments. The Cooperator will work with USDA-ARS to develop spectrograph/spectrometer techniques to both integrate detector subsystems and to calibrate these spectrometer systems for specific wavelength requirements dictated by the specific food application being scanned and processed. The objective being a standard means and process for consistent calibration which will be used as a standard within the food processing application sectors. These efforts may require the development of radiometric calibration techniques for the deployment of radiometrically-calibrated spectrographs and spectrometers for process line scanning and imaging in harsh environments.