Computer vision technology could help the egg industry overcome problems that make the counting process less accurate.
Existing egg counter technologies can be 5-20% inaccurate, said Evan Anderson, research and technology company Agrinerds Computer-aided Designer, at the 2022 Poultry Tech Summit. He continued that dirty barn conditions impacting the technology, or eggs being closely grouped together, can affect the accuracy of current egg counters.
“When a machine under or over counts the number of eggs, producers do not know what’s really happening on their farms or how to address potential issues such as disease,” he explained.
However, a new computer vision technology could provide more accuracy when counting eggs on the conveyor belt.
How the system works
The system uses multiple sensors, an infrared beam and visual imaging software to count eggs.
After eggs are collected onto conveyor belts, the system separates them into individual lanes for counting, Anderson said. The eggs then pass through an infrared beam, an ultrasonic sensor and a mounted camera, which all are measuring the egg count.
Once eggs pass through the counters, the counters are checked against each other using a central controller and a final tally is produced. The system is 99% accurate due to its machine learning algorithm
“Relying on one counter seems to be an issue for producers,” Anderson continued. “What we’re trying to do is use multiple counters in a series to have them self-check against themselves to provide a more accurate count.”
The technology fits different sizes of conveyor belts while its modular design allows for easier installation and routine maintenance. It contains a self-cleaning air system that keeps the sensors clean and counting accurately. It also utilizes self-validating mechanisms that can mitigate miscounts between the barn and processing plant.
The camera counter system also has the potential to recognize dirt, cracks or other quality issues, however, more testing needs to be done to ensure this. Agrinerds is looking for producers to test the system with it as it moves further into development.
Attend the 2023 Poultry Tech Summit
Join an exclusive international gathering of industry-changing innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs, technology experts, investors and leading poultry producers at the 2023 edition of Poultry Tech Summit on November 6-8 at the Hilton Atlanta Airport in Atlanta, Georgia.
Attendees can expect the same groundbreaking innovation and insightful presentations that made the previous events well-attended with deep dialogue on new prospective solutions and next-generation technologies. Poultry Tech Summit focuses on the transition of innovative technologies into commercial applications to advance the poultry industry.
Registration for this event will open in the spring of 2023.
