Abstract

Yolk index and air room height, two main measures for egg freshness detection, are very difficult to be accurately measured in practices. This paper investigated an image-based egg freshness detection method. The perspective image of egg was obtained by computer vision device. The characteristic regions, including the yolk region and air room region were separated from the obtained egg picture by image processing. The pixel areas and lengths of the above characteristic regions were respectively calculated and analyzed. The relative ratios of the pixel area and length of characteristic regions to that of the whole egg region were selected as characteristic parameters. It was shown that the above relative ratios increased while egg freshness reduced according to a detailed analysis. Three detection models of egg freshness were set up based on the correlations between the characteristic parameters and freshness. The test results showed that the accuracy rates of these models were 93, 94 and 92% respectively. The egg freshness detection based on image characteristic of yolk and air room was efficient and feasible.

Key words:  Egg yolk, air room, freshness, digital image, computer vision.