Building an Automated Vegetable Sorting Robot

Efficient sorting of vegetables based on their ripeness is essential for quality control in agriculture and food industries. This blog details the design of a robotic system that uses a colour sensor to sort ripe (red) and unripe (green) vegetables. The system ensures ripe vegetables are transported to the market while unripe ones are directed to the compost or processing area.

Sorter Arm with a Turntable

The sorter arm is the primary mechanism for sorting vegetables. It is equipped with a colour sensor that identifies the ripeness of each vegetable as it approaches the arm. Mounted on a turntable, the arm can rotate left or right to place vegetables into designated bins.

Collecting Bins

Two bins are strategically placed on either side of the sorter arm:

1. Right Bin: For ripe (red) vegetables destined for the market.
2. Left Bin: For unripe (green) vegetables, which may be sent for composting or further processing.

Slider Ramp

A ramp is used to deliver vegetables into the sorting mechanism. This ensures a controlled and steady flow of vegetables to the sorter arm for accurate identification.

Lever Arm Mechanism

A lever arm holds the vegetables at the top of the ramp and releases them one by one into the slider. This ensures the vegetables are processed sequentially, preventing jams or misidentifications.

Color Sensor

A colour sensor is mounted above the sorter arm. It accurately identifies the vegetable’s colour—red for ripe and green for unripe. This crucial component drives the robot's decision-making process.

Vegetable Detection

As vegetables move down the slider ramp, the colour sensor above the sorter arm scans each one:

1. Red (ripe): The sorter's arm picks up the vegetable and places it in the market bin.
2. Green (unripe): The sorter arm moves the vegetable to the compost or processing bin.

Seamless Flow

1. The lever arm releases vegetables onto the slider ramp one at a time.
2. Vegetables are scanned by the color sensor in real-time.
3. The sorter arm, guided by the sensor data, rotates to the appropriate bin.

Accurate Sorting

The turntable-mounted sorter arm ensures efficient placement into the correct bin, with minimal delays or errors.

With the integration of a colour sensor, turntable-mounted sorter arm, and other mechanical components, this vegetable-sorting robot showcases the power of automation in agricultural workflows. By ensuring ripe vegetables reach the market and unripe ones are processed appropriately, this system contributes to a more efficient and sustainable food supply chain.