Source: COMPASS TECHNOLOGY GROUP, LLC submitted to NRP
FIELD TOOL TO MEASURE DEFECTS IN CHICKEN BREAST VIA MICROWAVE DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
SMALL BUSINESS GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1029931
Grant No.
2023-70444-39328
Cumulative Award Amt.
$174,772.00
Proposal No.
2023-00501
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jul 1, 2023
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2025
Grant Year
2023
Program Code
[8.5]- Food Science & Nutrition
Recipient Organization
COMPASS TECHNOLOGY GROUP, LLC
1005 ALDERMAN DR STE 203
ALPHARETTA,GA 30005
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Recently, several conditions have appeared in chickens that affect the quality of their meat. Currently, these conditions can only be detected after the meat has been fully processed, and the detection requires a person to manually inspect each piece of meat for defects. The poultry industry would benefit from a device that could automatically screen for any abnormalities without human intervention. In this project, a microwave sensor is proposed as a potential technology that could enable this automated screening.As a part of this effort, the interaction of chicken breast to electrical signals (ranging from high frequency radio to microwave) will be tested to determine how these waves behave in healthy or abnormal chicken meat. Following this, a machine learning based classification method will be applied to the data collected, which will sort chicken into a score of meat quality. This algorithm will be evaluated for accuracy compared to the manual screening method that is commonly used. At the end of the project, a prototype system will be built to test the feasibility of the whole method in a practical (i.e. non-laboratory) setting.
Animal Health Component
30%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
5%
Applied
30%
Developmental
65%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
50132602020100%
Knowledge Area
501 - New and Improved Food Processing Technologies;

Subject Of Investigation
3260 - Poultry meat;

Field Of Science
2020 - Engineering;
Goals / Objectives
The goal of this effort will be the creation and testing of a microwave NDE system that is capable of detecting several chicken breast myopathies, including woody breast. The objectives supporting this goal are as follows:1. Development of a physical model of microwave interactions with chicken breast (healthy and otherwise). Success in this objective will result in an analytical model that can be used to generate s-parameters for an idealchicken breast.2. Development of a classification algorithm to translate measured s-parameters into a classification related to chicken breast quality. Success in the objective will be determined by the overall accuracy/reliability of the method compared to standard methods.3. Deployment of the microwave system in a prototype form. Success in this objective will result in the integration of microwave sensors into an in-line conveyor belt (or similar) system.
Project Methods
Methods:Chicken breast meat will be procured from local suppliers with an attempt to capture both low and high quality meat specimens. These meat specimens will be classified based on their visual appearance and through manual palpation in a manner consistent with literature methods. The specimens will be characterized using a variety of in-house electrical characterization tools using standard methods to obtain S-parameters and permittivity values. As needed, the specimens may be processed down into different shapes and sizes to aid electrical characterization. The development of physical models will be aided by both analytical tools (i.e. transmission line network method) and computational tools (i.e. computational electromagnetics codes). A classification algorithm will be constructed using a variety of tools (e.g. multiple linear regressions, singular value decomposition, neural network) with the ultimate selection of algorithm based on the accuracy/reliability of the scoring output. A prototype device will be constructed in accordance with general design needs that arise during the course of the project.Evaluation:The primary evaluation criteria for the work in this project will be the accuracy/reliability of the screening method (i.e. the total effect of physical models, classification algorithm, and device performance). Further evaluations will focus on the practicality and commercialization protentional of the device.Efforts:Reports will be generated and data shared with USDA partners. Equipment demonstrations will be performed with interested parties.?

Progress 07/01/23 to 06/30/24

Outputs
Target Audience:1. Poultry scientists. A brief summary of preliminary findings was provided to scientists atUSDA Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory. In addiiton, a preliminary CRADA was agreed to by CTG and this laboratory. Changes/Problems:Problems: 1. Approval for the CRADA with ARS was substantially delayed due to factors outside of our control. Because this CRADA was critical to the collection of relevant chicken breast data, we elected to file a no cost extension to extend the duration of the effort by roughly 1 year. Changes: 1. The initial proposal targetted only a free-space microwave system. It was determined that an existing CTG system would be a promising candidate system for obtaining lower frequency measurement data. In addition, this system, if found to be more or equivalently accurate, would have be easier to integrate into existing lines. Because of this, we elected to evaluate both systems (high-frequency frees-pace transmission and low-frequency near-field reflection) for their suitability as screening tools. In addiiton, the expanded frequency range of the permittivity acquired by both systems will add value to further development of microwave models of woody breast. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project has exposed several junior engineers and technicians to food science industry and given them an opportunity to work with biological specimens. In addiiton, the CRADA (signed after this reporting period) is planned to provide for significant technical exposure for one graduate student to both poultry science and microwave electronics. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Preliminary findings on the viability of microwave evaluations methods were communicated verbally to poultry scientists. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?A CRADA with cost-sharing agreeement has been signed (effective 07/01/24) to allow for colloborative data collection between CTG and ARS. With this, data will be collected on both microwave systems and correlated to other physical measurements including a munual grading for woody breast. Following the data collection, stastical analysis will be performed to determine the relationship between measured parameters and the chicken quality. A mock-up prototype of a in-line processing system for demo purposes will be assembled and evaluated for commercial potential.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1. Preliminary simulations were conducted for two different sensor concepts (with multiple variations) to determine sensitivity to permittivity changes in chicken breast. The permittivity changes were derived from literature values and were used as a guide to determine whether a given variant of a system would generate high quality signals. 2. None - currently awaiting data. 3. Following 1, microwave measurement systems were downselected based on expected signal quality. A free-space (nominally 2-18 GHz) system was tested, from which it was determined that a transmission based system with an aperture could provide permittivity data in the lower part of the band under laboratory conditions. Further, a lower frequency system (30-600 MHz) operating in reflection mode was found to have sufficient skin depth to obtain a reasonanble sample of the chicken breast permittivity. This system could present significantly fewer complications with regard to integration of microwave testing in a production line.

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