Patent Publication Number: US-11650162-B2

Title: Method and system for determining internal quality attribute(s) of articles of agricultural produce

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a method and system for determining internal quality attribute(s) of articles of agricultural produce. The invention is particularly suitable for use in detecting internal quality attributes such as internal defects in articles of agricultural produce such as apples and onions. Examples include the presence of vascular browning in apples and the presence of  botrytis  fungus and/or  pseudomonas  bacteria in onions. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is known to be used for commercial grading of internal quality attributes of fruits such as taste and the presence of rots. However, detection of small and/or localised internal defects is often very difficult. 
     United Kingdom patent GB 2,498,086 to MAF Agrobotic (MAF) discloses a device and method for non-destructive defects in fruits and vegetables. The method uses two sources of electromagnetic radiation, one emitting in a low band and the other in a high band. The mean wavelength of the high band and the mean wavelength of the low band are separated, for example, by at least 80 nanometres (nm). 
     A control device is adapted so as to be able to switch on one then the other of the two sources of electromagnetic radiation in alternation. The two sources of radiation are never switched on simultaneously. The beams are substantially identical in direction and in shape and would coincide if they were switched on simultaneously. 
     MAF discloses calculation of a simple index of defectiveness. One example of an index is a ratio of the powers transmitted in the low band and high band. The index of defectiveness of an object is compared with at least one predetermined value, so as to be able to sort the object according to its index of defectiveness. 
     Upchurch, B. L., Throop, J. A., Aneshansley, D. J., 1997. Detecting internal breakdown in apples using interactance measurements, Postharvest Biology and Technology 10, 15-19 (Upchurch) discloses using interactance measurements to detect internal breakdown in apples. An apple is placed on a light box so that light enters the calyx or lower end. A fibre optic probe is placed in contact with a cheek of the apple midway between the stem (upper) end and the calyx end. Only one site was selected for each apple. 
     Upchurch notes that transmittance is a non-destructive technique for identifying apples with internal breakdown. The technique is however said to be difficult to implement into an on-line inspection system. 
     In the case of apples, an internal defect known as vascular browning is very difficult to detect from a single ratio of two signals. Vascular browning is characterised by small open cavities near an apple core. The core itself is an open cavity. Vascular browning cavities discolour only mildly, turning light brown with oxidation. The combination of small size, proximity to the core, and a lack of strong absorbance changes makes detection challenging. 
     Clark, C. J., McGlone, V. A., Jordan, R. B., 2003. Detection of Brownheart in ‘Braeburn’ apple by transmission NIR spectroscopy, Postharvest Biology and Technology 28, 87-96 (Clark) discloses techniques for the detection of an internal browning disorder in apples. Clark discloses placing fruit centrally on a fruit holder by hand. Four different orientations of light source, fruit orientation and transmission detector were investigated. Orientation of the fruit with respect to a lamp and detector geometry was found to have a pronounced effect on the amount of light transmitted by the fruit. 
     Clark notes that sample averaging from up to four different locations around an apple could lead to improved precision. However, at grading speeds this may be impractical. Multiple measurements are said to be acceptable for manual experiments with limited numbers of fruit where careful control of the light source, fruit orientation and detector geometry can be maintained for successive readings at different sites. 
     In the case of onions, traditional NIR technology suffers a high false positive rate. The misclassification of good onions as defective is estimated to be as high as 40% in some cases. This problem represents a significant barrier to the effective use of NIR technology for defect sorting in the onion industry. 
     It is an object of at least preferred embodiments of the present invention to address some of the aforementioned disadvantages. An additional or alternative object is to at least provide the public with a useful choice. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a method for determining at least one internal quality attribute of an article of agricultural produce comprises receiving a plurality of first spectroscopic values obtained from directing low band light in a first wavelength associated to a low band of wavelengths from at least one low band light source at least partly through the article toward at least one detector; receiving a plurality of second spectroscopic values obtained from directing high band light in a second wavelength associated to a high band of wavelengths from at least one high band light source at least partly through the article toward the at least one detector; determining at least one measured spatial profile associated to the article, the at least one measured spatial profile comprising a plurality of ratios of respective first spectroscopic values to respective second spectroscopic values and/or a plurality of ratios of respective second spectroscopic values to respective first spectroscopic values; and determining the at least one internal quality attribute at least partly from a comparison of the at least one measured spatial profile with at least one reference spatial profile associated to a class of articles of agricultural produce. 
     The term ‘comprising’ as used in this specification means ‘consisting at least in part of’. When interpreting each statement in this specification that includes the term ‘comprising’, features other than that or those prefaced by the term may also be present. Related terms such as ‘comprise’ and ‘comprises’ are to be interpreted in the same manner. 
     In an embodiment the article has an axis between a first pole and a second pole, a plurality of latitudes along the axis, and a plurality of longitudes around a circumference of the article; the first spectroscopic values are associated to respective longitudes representing respective longitudes of the article to which low band light is directed from the at least one low band light source; and the second spectroscopic values are associated to respective longitudes representing respective longitudes of the article to which high band light is directed from the at least one high band light source. 
     In an embodiment the at least one measured spatial profile includes a first measured spatial profile, the first measured spatial profile including at least a first ratio and a second ratio, the longitude associated to the first ratio not equal to the longitude associated to the second ratio. 
     In an embodiment the at least one measured spatial profile includes a plurality of at least 3 ratios each associated to different longitudes. 
     In an embodiment the first spectroscopic values are associated to respective latitudes representing respective latitudes along the axis of the article to which low band light is directed from the at least one low band light source; and the second spectroscopic values are associated to respective latitudes representing respective latitudes of the article to which high band light is directed from the at least one high band light source. 
     In an embodiment a latitude associated to the first ratio is equal to a latitude associated to the second ratio. 
     In an embodiment the at least one measured spatial profile includes a second measured spatial profile, the second measured spatial profile including at least a first ratio and a second ratio each associated to the same latitude not equal to the latitude associated to the first ratio and the second ratio of the first measured spatial profile. 
     In an embodiment the at least one measured spatial profile includes a plurality of at least 3 measured spatial profiles, the measured profiles each associated to different latitudes. 
     In an embodiment the method further comprises determining the at least one internal quality attribute at least partly from a comparison of a signature value associated to the at least one measured spatial profile with a reference value associated to the at least one reference spatial profile. 
     In an embodiment the signature value is determined from a subset of the ratios of the at least one measured spatial profile. 
     In an embodiment the at least one low band light source and the at least one high band light source are configured to direct light at least partly through the article simultaneously. 
     In an embodiment an extractor is configured to extract, from the light transmitted through the article, at least one of the light transmitted from the at least one low band light source and the light transmitted from the at least one high band light source. 
     In an embodiment the article is at least partly spherical. 
     In an embodiment the lengths of at least some of the wavelengths associated to the first band of wavelengths are less than the lengths of at least some of the wavelengths associated to the second band of wavelengths. 
     In an embodiment the lengths of at least some of the wavelengths associated to the first band of wavelengths is in the range 699 nm to 900 nm. 
     In an embodiment the first wavelength is of length 728 nm. 
     In an embodiment the lengths of at least some of the wavelengths associated to the second band of wavelengths is in the range 729 nm to 900 nm. 
     In an embodiment the second wavelength is of length 805 nm. 
     In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, an assessment system is configured to determine at least one internal quality attribute of an article of agricultural produce. The system comprises a comparator configured to: receive a plurality of first spectroscopic values obtained from directing low band light in a first wavelength associated to a low band of wavelengths from at least one low band light source at least partly through the article toward at least one detector, receive a plurality of second spectroscopic values obtained from directing high band in a second wavelength associated to a high band of wavelengths from at least one high band light source at least partly through the article toward the at least one detector, determine at least one measured spatial profile associated to the article, the at least one measured spatial profile comprising a plurality of ratios of respective first spectroscopic values to respective second spectroscopic values and/or a plurality of ratios of respective second spectroscopic values to respective first spectroscopic values, and determine the at least one internal quality attribute at least partly from a comparison of the at least one measured spatial profile with at least one reference spatial profile associated to a class of articles of agricultural produce; and an output module configured to output the at least one internal quality attribute. 
     In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a computer readable medium has stored thereon processor executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for determining at least one internal quality attribute of an article of agricultural produce. The method comprises receiving a plurality of first spectroscopic values obtained from directing low band light in a first wavelength associated to a low band of wavelengths from at least one low band light source at least partly through the article toward at least one detector; receiving a plurality of second spectroscopic values obtained from directing high band light in a second wavelength associated to a high band of wavelengths from at least one high band light source at least partly through the article toward the at least one detector; determining at least one measured spatial profile associated to the article, the at least one measured spatial profile comprising a plurality of ratios of respective first spectroscopic values to respective second spectroscopic values and/or a plurality of ratios of respective second spectroscopic values to respective first spectroscopic values; and determining the at least one internal quality attribute at least partly from a comparison of the at least one measured spatial profile with at least one reference spatial profile associated to a class of articles of agricultural produce. 
     The invention in one aspect comprises several steps. The relation of one or more of such steps with respect to each of the others, the apparatus embodying features of construction, and combinations of elements and arrangement of parts that are adapted to affect such steps, are all exemplified in the following detailed disclosure. 
     To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting. Where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth. 
     In addition, where features or aspects of the invention are described in terms of Markush groups, those persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group. 
     As used herein, ‘(s)’ following a noun means the plural and/or singular forms of the noun. 
     As used herein, the term ‘and/or’ means ‘and’ or ‘or’ or both. 
     It is intended that reference to a range of numbers disclosed herein (for example, 1 to 10) also incorporates reference to all rational numbers within that range (for example, 1, 1.1, 2, 3, 3.9, 4, 5, 6, 6.5, 7, 8, 9, and 10) and also any range of rational numbers within that range (for example, 2 to 8, 1.5 to 5.5, and 3.1 to 4.7) and, therefore, all sub-ranges of all ranges expressly disclosed herein are hereby expressly disclosed. These are only examples of what is specifically intended and all possible combinations of numerical values between the lowest value and the highest value enumerated are to be considered to be expressly stated in this application in a similar manner. 
     In this specification where reference has been made to patent specifications, other external documents, or other sources of information, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the invention. Unless specifically stated otherwise, reference to such external documents or such sources of information is not to be construed as an admission that such documents or such sources of information, in any jurisdiction, are prior art or form part of the common general knowledge in the art. 
     The terms ‘component’, ‘module’, ‘system’, ‘interface’, and/or the like as used in this specification in relation to a processor are generally intended to refer to a computer-related entity, either hardware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software in execution. For example, a component may be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or a computer. By way of illustration, both an application running on a controller and the controller can be a component. One or more components may reside within a process and/or thread of execution and a component may be localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or more computers. 
     The term ‘computer-readable medium’ should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media. Examples of multiple media include a centralised or distributed database and/or associated caches. These multiple media store the one or more sets of computer executable instructions. The term ‘computer readable medium’ should also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by a processor and that cause the processor to perform any one or more of the methods described above. The computer-readable medium is also capable of storing, encoding or carrying data structures used by or associated with these sets of instructions. The term ‘computer-readable medium’ includes solid-state memories, optical media and magnetic media. 
     The term ‘connected to’ as used in this specification in relation to data or signal transfer includes all direct or indirect types of communication, including wired and wireless, via a cellular network, via a data bus, or any other computer structure. It is envisaged that they may be intervening elements between the connected integers. Variants such as ‘in communication with’, ‘joined to’, and ‘attached to’ are to be interpreted in a similar manner. Related terms such as ‘connecting’ and ‘in connection with’ are to be interpreted in the same manner. 
     In the description in this specification reference may be made to subject matter which is not within the scope of the appended claims. That subject matter should be readily identifiable by a person skilled in the art and may assist in putting into practice the invention as defined in the presently appended claims. 
     Although the present invention is broadly as defined above, those persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention is not limited thereto and that the invention also includes embodiments of which the following description gives examples. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred forms of the method for determining at least one internal quality attribute of an article of agricultural produce will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying figures in which: 
         FIG.  1    shows a system for determining an internal quality attribute of an article; 
         FIG.  2    shows an example of the system of  FIG.  1    adapted for use in a quality assurance; 
         FIG.  3    shows an example of the system of  FIG.  1    adapted for use in a high speed grading application; 
         FIG.  4    shows an example of multiple laser and detector positions adapted for use in either a quality assurance application or a high speed grading application; 
         FIG.  5    shows an example of spectroscopic values obtained from a healthy onion; 
         FIG.  6    shows the effect on the transmittance ratio profile for rots at different positions around an article; 
         FIG.  7    shows an example of an assessment of internal quality attributes of three different onions; 
         FIG.  8    shows examples of measured spatial profiles; 
         FIG.  9    shows an example of a technique used by the comparator from  FIG.  1    to compare measured spatial profiles from the data store with reference spatial profiles from the spatial profile database; 
         FIG.  10    shows examples of raw spectra and normalised spectra recorded on healthy and rotten onions; 
         FIG.  11    shows results of another set of measurements using three different onions; 
         FIG.  12    shows a spatial profile for healthy apples; 
         FIG.  13    shows a spatial profile for defective apples; 
         FIG.  14    shows asymmetry in the spatial profile of defective apples; and 
         FIG.  15    shows an embodiment of a suitable computing environment to implement embodiments of one or more of the systems and methods disclosed above. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG.  1    shows an example of a system  100  configured to determine at least one internal quality attribute of an article of agricultural produce  102 . In an embodiment the article of agricultural produce comprises an onion. The system is configured to detect the presence of  botrytis  fungus and/or  pseudomonas  bacteria as an example of an internal quality attribute of the onion. 
     In an embodiment the system  100  is configured to detect the presence of vascular browning in at least one apple. The presence of vascular browning is an example of an internal quality attribute of the apple. 
     In an embodiment the article of agricultural produce is selected from a group of fruits and vegetables, for example onions, apples, potatoes, avocados, oranges, peaches, apricots, berries. 
     The system includes at least one laser diode positioned so as to direct a beam of light through the article  102 . The system  100  shows two laser diodes indicated at  104  and  106  respectively. The lasers  104  and  106  are configured to provide intense light within a small illumination area on the article  102 . 
     In an embodiment laser  104  is modulated with a square wave of frequency  108  and laser  106  is modulated with a square wave of frequency  110 . A pulser  112  controls the operation of the lasers  104  and  106 . In an embodiment the pulser  112  is configured to cause the lasers  104  and  106  to direct light at least partly through the article  102  simultaneously. 
     A detector  120  is positioned so as to measure the light transmitted through the article  102  from at least one of the lasers  104  and  106 . In an embodiment the detector  120  comprises a photodiode for example a silicon photodiode. The detector  120  determines at least one spectroscopic value associated to respective lasers. In an embodiment the detector  120  collects the light from laser  104  and/or laser  106 . 
     In an embodiment the lasers  104  and  106  operate at different wavelengths to each other. In an embodiment laser  104  for example is configured to operate at a first wavelength in the range 699 nm to 900 nm. In an embodiment laser  104  for example is configured to operate at a first wavelength in the range 700 nm to 750 nm. In an embodiment laser  104  for example is configured to operate at a first wavelength in the range 850 nm to 900 nm. In an embodiment laser  104  is configured to operate at a wavelength of length 730 nm. In an embodiment laser  104  is configured to operate at a wavelength of length 699 nm. In an embodiment laser  104  is configured to operate at a wavelength of length 728 nm. 
     In an embodiment laser  106  for example is configured to operate at a second wavelength in the range 729 nm to 900 nm. In an embodiment laser  106  for example is configured to operate at a second wavelength in the range 850 nm to 900 nm. In an embodiment laser  106  for example is configured to operate at a second wavelength in the range 780 nm to 810 nm. In an embodiment laser  106  is configured to operate at a wavelength the range 729.1 nm to 803.9 nm. In an embodiment laser  106  is configured to operate at a wavelength of length 800 nm. In an embodiment the laser  106  is configured to operate at a wavelength of length 805 nm. 
     In an embodiment the lasers  104  and  106  are mounted in respective laser diode mounts (not shown) driven by respective laser diode drivers and controllers (not shown). 
     In an embodiment two lenses (not shown) are used to focus the light from the respective lasers to a target area on the surface of the article  102 . In an embodiment the target area has a 5 mm radius. In an embodiment an adjustable pinhole is used to remove the elliptical shape of the beam and any stray light. 
     In an embodiment the detector  120  is connected to an amplifier  122  to convert the current from the photodiode  112  to a voltage. In an embodiment the amplifier  122  comprises a trans-impedance amplifier. The amplifier  122  is connected to a lock-in amplifier  124 . In an embodiment the amplifier  124  is a multi-channel digital lock-in amplifier. 
     The lock-in amplifier  124  is configured to extract, from the light transmitted through the article  102 , the light signals from laser  104  and/or the light signals from laser  106  at least partly from the frequencies  108  generated by the pulser  112 . In an embodiment the lock-in amplifier is configured to extract the signals concurrently using modulation frequency. The amplifier  124  outputs two different light signals associated to the light received from laser  104  and laser  106  respectively. 
     In an embodiment the lasers  104  and  106  are modulated with square waveform shown at  108  and  110  respectively. Square wave modulation allows for a simplified driver circuit, as it requires a digital switch rather than analogue current control. In an embodiment the modulation frequency is selected so as to achieve an optimal trans-impedance gain and simplify the electronics design. Example modulation frequencies for the lasers include 11, 13, 17, 19 kHz respectively. 
     In an embodiment the lock-in amplifier  124  demodulates each of the signals associated to the respective lasers according to their frequencies. In an embodiment a low pass filter (not shown) is applied to the output of the lock-in amplifier  124 . 
     In an embodiment the detector  120  generates a plurality of absorption coefficient data values or spectroscopic values, referred to as absorption values. As the light from each of the lasers  104  and  106 ,  108  passes through the article  102 , the light is subject to absorption. The detector  120  measures the extent of absorption by the article  102  of the light from the respective lasers. 
     A computing device  126  receives the light signals output by the lock-in amplifier  124 . In an embodiment the computing device  126  receives a plurality of spectroscopic values obtained from directing low band light from laser  104  at least partly through the article  102  toward the detector  120 . In an embodiment the computing device  126  also receives a plurality of spectroscopic values obtained from directing high band light from laser  106  at least partly through the article  102  toward the detector  120 . 
     In an embodiment the computing device  126  is connected to the lock-in amplifier  124 . In an embodiment the spectroscopic values obtained from the amplifier  124  and stored for example on a computer readable medium before being input to the computing device  126 . 
     A data store  130 , for example, maintains the absorption values obtained from the detector  120  and amplifiers  122  and  124 . These absorption values are used to determine at least one measured spatial profile associated to the article. The measured spatial profiles and determination of these measured spatial profiles are further described below. In an embodiment the measured spatial profile(s) is/are maintained in data store  130 . 
     Data store  132 , for example, maintains a spatial profile database of reference spatial profiles representing absorption coefficient data values for desirable and undesirable values for articles, for example healthy onions and rotten onions. 
     A comparator  134  compares at least one measured spatial profile from data store  130  with reference spatial profiles from spatial profile database  132  in order to assess at least one internal quality attribute for an article for example an onion. In an embodiment this internal quality attribute includes whether the onion is healthy or rotten. 
     In an embodiment the comparator  134  determines an assessment of at least one article. In an embodiment the comparator  134  determines at least one internal quality of the article  102  at least partly from a comparison of at least one measured spatial profile from the data store  130  with at least one reference spatial profile from the spatial profile database  132 . 
     In an embodiment the comparator  134  determines or receives at least one measured spatial profile associated to the article  102 . In an embodiment the measured spatial profile(s) each include a plurality of ratios of respective spectroscopic values associated to the low band laser  104  to respective spectroscopic values associated to the high band laser  110 . In an embodiment the measured spatial profile(s) each include a plurality of ratios of respective spectroscopic values associated to the high band laser  106  to respective spectroscopic values associated to the low band laser  104 . 
     In an embodiment at least one of the reference spatial profiles are associated to a class of articles of agricultural produce. For example, at least some of the spatial profiles may be associated to respective degrees of defects in onions, apples and other items of agricultural produce. 
     An output module  136 , for example, presents an output from the comparator  134 . In an embodiment the output module  136  presents an assessment of the onion to a user. In an embodiment the output module  136  transmits an assessment of the onion to a processor, for example to remove a rotten onion from a conveyor belt. 
     In an embodiment, the ratio of first wavelength light to second wavelength light is selected from the following:
         700 to 750 nm:780 to 810 nm   850 to 900 nm:780 to 810 nm   700 to 750 nm:850 to 900 nm   850 to 900 nm:780 to 810 nm   700 to 750 nm:850 to 900 nm.       

       FIG.  2    shows an example of the system  100  of  FIG.  1    adapted for use in a quality assurance application. In this example an article of agricultural produce is removed from a batch of similar articles. The selected article is assessed for quality. An assessment of the batch of articles is based at least partly on articles randomly selected from the batch and subjected to quality assessment. 
     As shown in  FIG.  2    an article of agricultural produce, in this case an onion  200 , is seated on a cup mount  202 . In an embodiment the onion is shown with a stem end seated within the mount  202 . 
     A plurality of lasers direct light toward the onion.  FIG.  2    shows lasers  204  and  206  by way of example. A photodiode  208  obtains absorption values representing the extent of absorption of light from lasers  204  and  206  by the onion  200 . 
     In an embodiment the cup mount  202  is adapted to rotate the onion  200  about an axis  220  extending between a first pole  222  and a second pole  224  of the onion  200 . As the onion  200  rotates about the axis  220 , different points on the surface of the onion  200  are exposed to the lasers  204  and  206 . In an embodiment, a point on the surface of the onion  200  is represented by a latitude along the axis  220  and a longitude around a circumference of the onion  200 . 
     In an embodiment the article is at least partly spherical. Apples and onions for example have a generally spherical shape. Points on the surface of a spherical article are therefore associated to respective latitudes and longitudes. In an embodiment, articles that are not spherical are associated to respective latitudes and longitudes. 
     In this embodiment the photodiode  208  obtains a plurality of absorption values at different orientations of the onion  200  with respect to the lasers  204  and  206 . The spectroscopic values associated to laser  204  and/or the spectroscopic values associated to laser  206  represent respective longitudes around the circumference of the onion  200 . The values represent respective longitudes to which low band light or high band light is directed from laser  204  or laser  206 . 
     In an embodiment the lasers  204  and  206  are adapted to move relative to the onion so as to obtain spectroscopic values at different latitudes of the onion  200 . In an embodiment there are positioned lasers additional to lasers  204  and  206  so as to obtain spectroscopic values at different latitudes of the onion  200 . The values represent respective latitudes to which low band light or high band light is directed from laser  204  or laser  206 . 
       FIG.  3    shows an example of the system  100  of  FIG.  1    adapted for use in a high speed grading application. In this example an article of agricultural produce is assessed while being conveyed in a grading system. 
     As shown in  FIG.  3    an article of agricultural produce, in this case an article  300  such as an onion, is supported on a roller  302  forming part of a high speed grading application. 
     In an embodiment the onion is rotated about an axis  304  extending through the stem end of the onion while travelling along a conveyor. 
     A plurality of lasers direct light toward the onion.  FIG.  3    shows 10 lasers, which include lasers  310 ,  312 ,  314 , and  316  for example. It will be appreciated that the number of lasers can be varied. In an embodiment the lasers are grouped into pairs of lasers. The pairs of lasers are positioned so as to direct light toward different parts of the onion at different incident angles. The lasers within each pair of lasers are positioned so as to direct light toward similar parts of the onion at similar incident angles. 
     In an embodiment the pairs of lasers are configured to direct, toward the onion, light associated to a first wavelength and light associated to a second wavelength. The first wavelength is different to the second wavelength. Within the respective pairs of lasers a first laser is configured to direct light of a first wavelength toward the onion and a second laser is configured to direct light of a second wavelength. 
     A photodiode  320  is positioned so as to obtain absorption values representing the extent of absorption of light from lasers  310 ,  312 ,  314 , and  316  directed to different points of the onion  300  representing different longitudes and latitudes. In an embodiment the photodiode is positioned between the roller  302  and the onion  300  and shaped so as to measure light absorption from at least one of the lasers. 
     In an embodiment laser  310  and laser  314  are configured to direct low band light at least partly through the article  300 , while laser  312  and laser  316  are configured to direct high band light at least partly through the article  300 . 
     The spectroscopic values associated to lasers  310 ,  312 ,  314  and  316  represent respective longitudes around the circumference of the onion  200 . The values represent respective longitudes to which low band light or high band light is directed from the lasers. 
     In embodiment laser  310  and laser  312  are configured to direct low band light and high band light respectively toward the same latitude of the article  300 . Laser  314  and laser  316  are configured to direct low band light and high band light respectively toward the same latitude of the article  300 . The latitude associated to laser  310  and  312  is different to the latitude associated to laser  314  and laser  316 . 
       FIG.  4    shows an example of multiple laser and detector positions adapted for use in either a quality assurance application or a high speed grading application. 
     A representation of an article  400  is shown having an axis  402  extending between a first pole  404  and a second pole  406 . The spectroscopic values are obtained from three detectors indicated at  410 ,  412 , and  414  respectively. It will be appreciated that various embodiments include fewer than three or more than three detectors. 
     In an embodiment the detectors are positioned at different latitudes along the axis  402 . In an embodiment a single detector is configured to move along the axis  402  so as to obtain spectroscopic values representing different latitudes along the axis  402 . 
     The representation of the article  400  includes points on the surface of the article having different longitudes around the circumference of the article. Examples of points having different longitudes are indicated at  420 ,  422  and  424  respectively. 
     In an embodiment the longitude of the detectors  410 ,  412 , and  414  is assumed to be zero degrees. Point  420  is located at a longitude of 67.5 degrees, point  422  is located at a longitude of 78.75 degrees, and point  424  is located at a longitude of 90 degrees with respect to the detectors. In an embodiment there are 21 points evenly located around the surface of the article from 67.5 degrees to 292.5 degrees with respect to the detectors  410 ,  412 ,  414 . 
     There are 21 points shown in  FIG.  4    around the circumference of the article that share the same latitude. In an embodiment having a points with three different latitudes and 21 different longitudes there would be a total of 63 different points on the surface of the article to which light from the lasers is directed. It will be appreciated that the number of latitudes of the points can be less than three or more than three. It will also be appreciated that the number of longitudes of the points can be less than or more than 21. 
     Also shown in  FIG.  4    is a spherical region  440  representing rotten tissue within the article  400 . It will be apparent that the presence of the spherical region  440  would be detected by examining the spectroscopic values obtained from detector  410 . However, examination of the spectroscopic values obtained from detector  412  or detector  414  would not detect the presence of the spherical region  440 . 
       FIG.  5    shows an example of spectroscopic values obtained from a healthy onion using light transport simulation software. Transmittance ratios at various longitudes (source locations) around the surface of the article are shown for different wavelengths of low band and high band light. Examples of wavelengths include 880 nm:905 nm at 500, 728 nm:805 nm at 502, and 750 nm:800 nm at  504 . Transmittance ratios are shown on the y axis of the graph. Various longitudes around the circumference of the article are shown on the x axis of the graph. 
     It has been found that a ratio of light transmittance at two different wavelengths can be used to identify rots. However, this ratio is dependent on source-detector separation. 
     This effect can be explained by the diffusion approximation of the radiative transfer equation used to calculate the light transport in diffusive medium. The fluence (light energy per unit area), ϕ, is calculated as: 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
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                   ) 
                 
               
             
             
               
                 where 
               
               
                 
                     
                 
               
             
             
               
                 
                   
                     μ 
                     eff 
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       3 
                       ⁢ 
                       
                         μ 
                         a 
                       
                       ⁢ 
                       
                         μ 
                         s 
                         ′ 
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   2 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     is the attenuation coefficient, r is the source-detector separation distance, μ a  and μ s ′ are the absorption and reduced scattering coefficients, respectively. 
     For two wavelengths, λ 1  and λ 2 , the corresponding fluences are □ 1  and □ 2 . Using equation (1) the ratio can be expressed as: 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     
                       Φ 
                       1 
                     
                     
                       Φ 
                       2 
                     
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       
                         μ 
                         
                           s 
                           1 
                         
                         ′ 
                       
                       
                         μ 
                         
                           s 
                           2 
                         
                         ′ 
                       
                     
                     ⁢ 
                     
                       e 
                       
                         
                           ( 
                           
                             
                               μ 
                               
                                 eff 
                                 2 
                               
                             
                             - 
                             
                               μ 
                               
                                 eff 
                                 1 
                               
                             
                           
                           ) 
                         
                         ⁢ 
                         r 
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   3 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     This ratio is not only dependent on the optical properties at these two wavelengths but also on the separation distance, r. 
     As shown in  FIG.  5   , the measured transmittance ratio values shown at  500  increase with increased source-detector distance to a maximum at 180 degrees. The measured transmittance ratio values shown at  504  decrease to a minimum at 180 degrees. 
     Therefore a change in transmittance ratio depends on the source-detector distance as well as the level of rot. 
     Measuring the source-detector separation distance is a possible solution but is not practical for online applications. According to equation 3, the transmittance ratio changes depending on the difference of μ eff  at the two wavelengths. 
     If the two attenuation coefficients are equal, μ eff     1   =μ eff     2   , the ratio becomes: 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     
                       Φ 
                       1 
                     
                     
                       Φ 
                       2 
                     
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       μ 
                       
                         s 
                         1 
                       
                       ′ 
                     
                     
                       μ 
                       
                         s 
                         2 
                       
                       ′ 
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   4 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     This is now a ratio of the reduced scattering coefficients, independent of the source-detector separation distance. The 728 nm and 805 nm wavelength ratio shown at  502  has been found to have good classification performance. Furthermore, the attenuation coefficients are similar at these wavelengths, resulting in a transmittance ratio that is almost constant with distance. 
     Compared to healthy tissue, rotten tissue has higher absorption and lower scattering coefficients from 710 to 950 nm, resulting in different μ eff . Therefore, the target ideal of μ eff     1   =μ eff     2   , for separation distance independence, will likely not hold if there is rotten tissue intersecting the light path. 
     The presence of rotten tissue will more likely cause a peak or trough on the scanned spatial profile. It is anticipated that such pattern differences in the spatial profiles could be the basis of a detection method, possibly with higher sensitivity because the method would be using additional spatial information with the ratio. 
       FIG.  6    shows the effect on the transmittance ratio profile for rots of different sizes and at different positions around an article using light transport simulation software. 
     Shown at  600 ,  610  and  620  respectively are three different positions  602 ,  612 , and  622  for the location of rot within an article. In each case the position of the rot is located near a stem end at a top latitude along an axis through the article, and horizontally moved to three different positions. 
     In each case, the rot produced a distinctive trough in the profile of the top latitude. The respective troughs are indicated at  604 ,  614  and  624  respectively. The trough positions  604 ,  614  and  624  correspond to the respective positions of the rot. 
     Shown at  630  is a position  632  of rot located close to the basal plate of the onion. The resulting spatial profile displays a trough  634  at the centre. 
     Shown at  640  is a bigger rot at a position  642  at a top latitude, causing a wider trough  644  in the top profile and a shallower trough  646  in the middle profile. 
     The results shown in  FIG.  6    indicate that the ratio profiles at three different latitudes is sufficient to indicate the position and size of rot in an article. It will be appreciated that more than three latitudes can be used. 
       FIG.  7    shows an example of an assessment of internal quality attributes of three different onions. Light of a first wavelength of 728 nm and light of a second wavelength of 805 nm is directed toward the onions at a range of laser incident angles. For each of onions  700 ,  710  and  720 , three measured spatial profiles are determined. It will be appreciated that in an embodiment the number of different measured spatial profiles determined includes at least three different measured spatial profiles. 
     Shown at  700  is a range of absorption values for a healthy onion. The values are shown as three different measured spatial profiles  702 ,  704  and  706  each comprising ratios of the absorption values from the first wavelength to the absorption values from the second wavelength. 
     The ratios in spatial profile  702  for example share a common lower latitude value. The ratios in spatial profile  704  share a common middle or intermediate latitude value. The ratios in spatial profile  706  share a common upper latitude value. In an embodiment the latitudes associated to each of spatial profiles  702 ,  704  and  706  are different to each other. 
     Each of the spatial profiles is shown associated to a spatial range of different laser incident angles, or longitudes around the article. The range is shown in  FIG.  4    as 67.5° to 292.5°. It will be appreciated that this range can be varied. In an embodiment the spatial profiles  702 ,  704  and/or  706  include at least a first ratio and a second ratio, the longitude associated to the first ratio not equal to the longitude associated to the second ratio. In an embodiment the spatial profiles  702 ,  704  and/or  706  include at least 3 ratios associated to a plurality of respective different longitudes. 
     Shown at  710  is a range of absorption ratio values for an onion infected with  Botrytis.    
     The ratios of absorption values for each of the lower latitude  712 , middle latitude  714  and upper latitude  716  show a wide ‘v’ shape profile with a nadir at approximately 180°. 
     It is to be expected that the central portion of the onions in this group have more rotten tissue being traversed by the light. Therefore the absorption values are lower. The drop in the ratio is indicative of a location of the rot within the onions, in this case localised to the centres of the onions. 
     Shown at  720  is a range of absorption ratio values for an onion infected with  Pseudomonas . The ratios of absorption values for each of the lower latitude  722 , middle latitude  724  and upper latitude  726  show a wide ‘v’ shape profile with a nadir at approximately 180°. The spatial profiles  720  when plotted show a similar pattern to the spatial profiles  710 . 
     The spatial profiles  702 ,  704 ,  706  of the healthy onion show a relatively flat ratio response across the spatial range of incident angles. The spatial profiles  712 ,  714 ,  716 ,  722 ,  724 , and  726  on the other hand show a distinctive ‘v’ shape. Spatial profiles  700  show a response ratio with a relatively small standard deviation. Spatial profiles  710  and  720  show a response ratio with a larger standard deviation than spatial profiles  700 . 
     In an embodiment the comparator  134  from  FIG.  1    compares the standard deviation of at least one ratio of respective first spectroscopic values to second spectroscopic values with the spatial profiles shown in  FIG.  7   . The standard deviation of the ratios of absorption values are compared to the standard deviations of the stored spatial profiles. Based at least partly on this comparison of standard deviations, the onion under evaluation is assessed as being either healthy or rotten. 
       FIG.  8    shows examples of measured spatial profiles. A healthy onion  800  shows a largely flat line with some minor fluctuations, possibly caused by the variegated light absorbing character of the onion skin. 
     Rotten onions  800 ,  810 ,  820 ,  830 ,  840 , and  850  showed a trough on the spatial profile. Both  pseudomonas  and  botrytis  caused the rot to develop first in the top middle core of the onion, so the troughs appeared in the centre of the profiles. 
     It was found that the larger the rot, the deeper the trough. The clear presence of the trough for onion  810  indicates that the system is sensitive to a very small rot. 
     The onion  850  had rotten tissue occupying almost the entire volume at the neck end. The profile level in that case was dramatically reduced compared to the other profiles but there was still a clear trough in the middle of the profile. 
     Hence the profile level in addition to profile pattern has the potential to be useful in the discrimination of severity of rot. 
       FIG.  9    shows an example of a technique used by the comparator  134  from  FIG.  1    to compare measured spatial profiles from the data store  130  with reference spatial profiles from the spatial profile database  132 . 
     In an embodiment a single signature or discriminator value is used as a metric for comparison. In an embodiment a signature value associated to a measured spatial profile is compared with a reference value associated to a reference spatial profile. An internal quality attribute is determined at least partly from a comparison of a signature value and a reference value. 
     An example of a signature value is set out below: 
     
       
         
           
             
               Signature 
               ⁢ 
               
                   
               
               ⁢ 
               value 
             
             = 
             
               
                 ( 
                 
                   meanSidePoints 
                   - 
                   meanCentrePoints 
                 
                 ) 
               
               meanProfile 
             
           
         
       
     
     In an embodiment the signature value is determined from a subset of the ratios of a measured spatial profile. For example, the variable meanSidePoints is the average of the first four points shown at  900  and the last four points shown at  902 . The variable meanCentrePoints is the average of the five points in the centre shown at  904 . The variable meanProfile is the average of all the points. In an embodiment 
     A deeper trough on a profile will be associated with a higher discriminator value, therefore a threshold can be set to segregate the onions. Indicated at  906  are the ROC curves for the above comparison technique. The technique is found to provide higher AUC values and better performance than previous techniques. 
       FIG.  10    shows examples of raw spectra  1000  and normalised spectra  1002  recorded on healthy and rotten onions. Within the range 680-1000 nm, the spectra have good signal to noise ratio due to the lower absorbance from water and pigments. 
     Normalisation cannot fully eliminate path length variations and could mask some spectral characteristics, but the general spectral features should be preserved. The average SNV normalised spectra for each severity score are shown at  1002 , with the score  5  spectra being appreciably different. 
     Rotten onions were found to have lower transmittance in the wavelength range 680 to 750 nm and higher transmittance in the 800 to 950 nm range. Wavelengths chosen from these two ranges have the potential to be useful for detecting the presence of rotten tissue. 
     The middle region, from 770 to 810 nm, might then be used as a reference with which to normalise light intensity variations and/or spectral drift as the spectra are all closer to each other in that region as shown at  1000 , even overlapping in the normalised view as shown at  1002 . A transmittance ratio at two wavelengths has the potential to be an effective classification methodology. 
       FIG.  11    shows results of another set of measurements using three different onions, for example a healthy onion  1100 , an onion infected with  botrytis    1120 , and an onion infected with  pseudomonas    1130 . 
     A healthy onion known to have given a false positive result using a 728/805 ratio classification method was used. The onions were measured on the middle position, and then measurements were repeated after carefully peeling away  2  to  3  dry skin layers. 
     The ratio profile was consistent with either the skin on or off for each of the onions and the healthy onion was detected correctly in both cases. Therefore the multi-laser system appeared to be successful in removing the skin interference problem. 
     A further experiment with apples showed that intensity ratios at  699 / 805  and  728 / 805  were useful for detecting vascular browning defects in apples. An experimental trial comprised 50 healthy and 50 defective Braeburn apples. 
     For clarity of results, a small number of results were selected for illustrative discussion. In this example the results were from 3 healthy and 4 defective apples. 
       FIG.  12    shows that the apple core of a healthy apple, which contains open seed cavities, produced a distinctive trough in the spatial profile for the intensity ratios. The trough was centred at 180° and was much deeper and smoother with the 699/804 ratio. 
       FIG.  13    shows an example using defective apples. The vascular browning defects in the apples were generally scattered around the core. This effectively broadened the trough in the spatial profiles. 
       FIG.  14    shows that asymmetry in the spatial profile was observed when the defect was small and localised to one side of the core. 
       FIG.  15    shows an embodiment of a suitable computing environment to implement embodiments of one or more of the systems and methods disclosed above. The computing environment for example may implement one or more of the components of  FIG.  1   . These components include the data store  130 , the spatial profile database  132 , the comparator  134 , and the output module  136 . 
     The operating environment of  FIG.  15    is an example of a suitable operating environment. It is not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of the operating environment. Example computing devices include, but are not limited to, personal computers, server computers, hand-held or laptop devices, mobile devices, multiprocessor systems, consumer electronics, mini computers, mainframe computers, and distributed computing environments that include any of the above systems or devices. Examples of mobile devices include mobile phones, tablets, and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). 
     Although not required, embodiments are described in the general context of ‘computer readable instructions’ being executed by one or more computing devices. In an embodiment, computer readable instructions are distributed via tangible computer readable media. 
     In an embodiment, computer readable instructions are implemented as program modules. Examples of program modules include functions, objects, Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), and data structures that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Typically, the functionality of the computer readable instructions is combined or distributed as desired in various environments. 
     Shown in  FIG.  15    is a system  1500  comprising a computing device  1505  configured to implement one or more embodiments described above. In an embodiment, computing device  1505  includes at least one processing unit  1510  and memory  1515 . Depending on the exact configuration and type of computing device, memory  1515  is volatile (such as RAM, for example), non-volatile (such as ROM, flash memory, etc., for example) or some combination of the two. 
     A server  1520  is shown by a dashed line notionally grouping processing unit  1510  and memory  1515  together. 
     In an embodiment, computing device  1505  includes additional features and/or functionality. One example is removable and/or non-removable additional storage including, but not limited to, magnetic storage and optical storage. Such additional storage is illustrated in  FIG.  15    as storage  1525 . In an embodiment, computer readable instructions to implement one or more embodiments provided herein are maintained in storage  1525 . In an embodiment, storage  1525  stores other computer readable instructions to implement an operating system and/or an application program. Computer readable instructions are loaded into memory  1515  for execution by processing unit  1510 , for example. 
     Memory  1515  and storage  1525  are examples of computer storage media. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, Digital Versatile Disks (DVDs) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by computing device  805 . Any such computer storage media may be part of device  1505 . 
     In an embodiment, computing device  1505  includes at least one communication connection  1540  that allows device  1505  to communicate with other devices. The at least one communication connection  1540  includes one or more of a modem, a Network Interface Card (NIC), an integrated network interface, a radio frequency transmitter/receiver, an infrared port, a USB connection, or other interfaces for connecting computing device  1505  to other computing devices. In an embodiment, communication connection(s)  1540  facilitate a wired connection, a wireless connection, or a combination of wired and wireless connections. Communication connection(s)  1540  transmit and/or receive communication media. 
     Communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions or other data in a “modulated data signal” such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” includes a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. 
     In an embodiment, device  1505  includes at least one input device  1545  such as keyboard, mouse, pen, voice input device, touch input device, infrared cameras, video input devices, and/or any other input device. 
     Device  1505  also includes at least one output device  1550  such as one or more displays, speakers, printers, and/or any other output device. In an embodiment the output module  126  from  FIG.  1    is implemented at least partially on the output device  1550 . 
     Input device(s)  1545  and output device(s)  1550  are connected to device  1505  via a wired connection, wireless connection, or any combination thereof. In an embodiment, an input device or an output device from another computing device is/are used as input device(s)  1545  or output device(s)  1550  for computing device  1505 . 
     In an embodiment, components of computing device  1505  are connected by various interconnects, such as a bus. Such interconnects include one or more of a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI), such as PCI Express, a Universal Serial Bus (USB), firewire (IEEE 13104), and an optical bus structure. In an embodiment, components of computing device  1505  are interconnected by a network. For example, memory  1515  in an embodiment comprises multiple physical memory units located in different physical locations interconnected by a network. 
     It will be appreciated that storage devices used to store computer readable instructions may be distributed across a network. For example, in an embodiment, a computing device  1555  accessible via a network  1560  stores computer readable instructions to implement one or more embodiments provided herein. Computing device  1505  accesses computing device  1555  in an embodiment and downloads a part or all of the computer readable instructions for execution. Alternatively, computing device  1505  downloads portions of the computer readable instructions, as needed. In an embodiment, some instructions are executed at computing device  1505  and some at computing device  1555 . 
     A client application  1585  enables a user experience and user interface. In an embodiment, the client application  1585  is provided as a thin client application configured to run within a web browser. The client application  1585  is shown in  FIG.  15    associated to computing device  1555 . It will be appreciated that application  1585  in an embodiment is associated to computing device  1505  or another computing device. 
     The foregoing description of the invention includes preferred forms thereof. Modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.