PommaQuality: the app that “instantly assesses apple quality”

After PommaFlow in 2021 for real-time harvest monitoring, SAS ArboFlow is now launching the PommaQuality® app, which instantly assesses apple quality thanks to artificial intelligence. This innovation received the silver SIVAL award 2024. Mathieu Gazeau, producer and head of the company, explains how it works and its benefits.

How does it work?
PommaQuality® uses AI to analyze images of apples captured from the mobile app, in order to provide precise estimates of size and coloring. “The first step is to photograph the pallet of apples, having previously placed a ping-pong ball inside to serve as a reference. Artificial intelligence then analyzes the photo, assessing the apple's size and coloring,” explains Mathieu Gazeau. “The analyzed data is then sent to a computer for instant visualization. The application can detect pink intensities, which are essential for Pink Lady apples, for example, as well as the tipping yellow of yellow varieties. Another advantage of the app is the possibility of manually adding defect recognition.

The application can also print quality sheets by variety and by plot.

What are the advantages?
“The result can be read within 2 seconds after taking the picture,” explains Mathieu. “As we go through the pallets, with approximately twenty photographs, we are able to give a 95% accurate grading and coloration compared with the pre-calibration.” The innovation lies in the efficiency and speed of the system, since evaluation is almost instantaneous, thanks to artificial intelligence that automates and accelerates the process. And all of this is done offline. “We have incredible visibility over the quality of our apples right at harvest time, even before they arrive at the packing station. This enables us to improve harvest management, save significant time (since the operation is usually carried out manually) and increase the reliability of the data collected.” PommaQuality can be integrated into the PommaFlow application and is designed to be scalable, as its creators do not rule out the addition of other fruits or quality criteria.

Demonstration:

The ArboFlow team will be present at Sival on January 16th-18th (booth D85).