A Color Based Mango Maturity Device

Abstract

Digital cameras have proven to be very efficient for use in agriculture. Especially in detecting fruits and fruit maturity at different stages. However, it poses many challenges like color calibration of digital cameras in different illumination conditions as the color values may vary under different lighting conditions and with different camera settings. In this research, the mango is classified into different maturity stages using RGB color information of fruit images using camera color calibration technique. The camera calibration technique is employed under different lighting conditions to find the optimal time and lighting conditions to take best images of a fruit with minimum color difference. An Xrite color checker passport (24 patch) was imaged under different illumination conditions at different times throughout the day and indoors under LED and incandescent light. It is demonstrated that the best illumination conditions are available at just after sunrise and right before sunset. It is also demonstrated that the LED lights provide suitable lighting for indoor usage. The optimal color calibration was saved and used to exhibit true colors of fruits in an image taken from any camera. After the calibration of fruit images, the mangoes were classified into Immature and Ready to Harvest stages with an accuracy of 100%.