Improving optical sorting of bulk materials using sophisticated motion models

摘要

Visual properties are powerful features to reliably classify bulk materials, thereby allowing to detect defect or low quality particles. Optical belt sorters are an established technology to sort based on these properties, but they suffer from delays between the simultaneous classification and localization step and the subsequent separation step. Therefore, accurate models to predict the particles' motions are a necessity to bridge this gap. In this paper, we explicate our concept to use sophisticated simulations to derive accurate models and optimize the flow of bulk solids via adjustments of the sorter design. This allows us to improve overall sorting accuracy and cost efficiency. Lastly, initial results are presented.