Blending of agricultural products via hyperspectral imaging and analysis
Provided is a method for blending of agricultural product utilizing hyperspectral imaging. At least one region along a sample of agricultural product is scanned using at least one light source of different wavelengths. Hyperspectral images are generated from the at least one region. A spectral fingerprint for the sample of agricultural product is formed from the hyperspectral images. A plurality of samples of agricultural product is blended based on the spectral fingerprints of the samples according to parameters determined by executing a blending algorithm.
1. A method for blending of agricultural product, the method utilizing hyperspectral imaging and comprising:
(a) scanning at least one region along a sample of agricultural product using at least one light source of a single or different wavelengths;
(b) generating hyperspectral images from the at least one region;
(c) determining a spectral fingerprint for the sample of agricultural product from the hyperspectral images;
(d) repeating steps (a), (b), and (c) for a plurality of samples of agricultural product; and
(e) blending the plurality of samples of agricultural product together based on the spectral fingerprints of the samples according to parameters determined by a blending algorithm, to yield a blended agricultural product.
2. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
scanning multiple regions along the sample of agricultural product using at least one light source of a single or different wavelengths; and
generating hyperspectral images from the multiple regions.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a physicochemical code for the sample.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the blending forms a blended agricultural product with desirable sensory attributes.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising determining one or more features of a spectral fingerprint that correspond to the desirable sensory attributes.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the blended agricultural product with desirable sensory attributes is blended by a computer controlled system.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the blended agricultural product with desirable sensory attributes is blended manually.
8. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
correlating one or more features of the spectral fingerprint for the sample of a desirable agricultural product to the desirable sensory attributes.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the agricultural product comprises tobacco.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the tobacco is in the form of a bale.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one light source is positioned to minimize an angle of incidence of each beam of light with the bale of tobacco.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein cost of the samples is a factor used by the blending algorithm in step (e).
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source for providing a beam of light comprises a light source selected from the group consisting of a tungsten light source, a halogen light source, a xenon light source, a mercury light source, an ultraviolet light source, and combinations thereof.
14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to step (e):
storing data about the spectral fingerprints of the plurality of samples of agricultural product within a computer storage means; and
storing at least a portion of at least some of the plurality of samples of agricultural product;
wherein step (e) comprises blending at least a portion of at least some of the plurality of samples of agricultural product stored in the step of storing at least a portion of at least some of the plurality of samples of agricultural product.