US 12,400,422 B2 · Sensor fusion approach for plastics identification

Abstract

Methods and systems for using multiple hyperspectral cameras sensitive to different wavelengths to predict characteristics of objects for further processing, including recycling, are described. The multiple hyperspectral images can be used to predict higher resolution spectra by using a trained machine learning model. The higher resolution spectra may be more easily analyzed to sort plastics into a recyclability category. The hyperspectral images may also be used to identify and analyze dark or black plastics, which are challenging for SWIR, MWIR, and other wavelengths. The machine learning model may also predict the base polymers and contaminants of plastic objects for recycling. The hyperspectral images may be used to predict recyclability and other characteristics using a trained machine learning model.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

accessing a set of location-specific spectra, wherein each location-specific spectrum in the set of location-specific spectra characterizes an extent to which electromagnetic radiation at each of a first set of frequency bands was reflected by a material located at a physical location corresponding to the location-specific spectrum;
accessing a hyperspectral image of one or more objects in a region of a conveyor belt that includes a plurality of physical locations corresponding to the set of location-specific spectra;
generating one or more predicted characteristics of the one or more objects within the region by processing the set of location-specific spectra and the hyperspectral image in parallel using a machine learning model;
and
outputting the one or more predicted characteristics, wherein the predicted characteristics include a base polymer composition of each of the one or more objects.

2 more elements

A computer-program product tangibly embodied in a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, including instructions configured to cause one or more data processors to perform a method comprising:

accessing a set of location-specific spectra, wherein each location-specific spectrum in the set of location-specific spectra characterizes an extent to which electromagnetic radiation at each of a first set of frequency bands was reflected by a material located at a physical location corresponding to the location-specific spectrum;
accessing a hyperspectral image of one or more objects in a region of a conveyor belt that includes a plurality of physical locations corresponding to the set of location-specific spectra;
generating one or more predicted characteristics of the one or more objects within the region by processing the set of location-specific spectra and the hyperspectral image in parallel using a machine learning model;
and
outputting the one or more predicted characteristics, wherein the predicted characteristics include a base polymer composition of each of the one or more objects.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Sensor fusion approach for plastics identification

Life of this patent

Sensor fusion approach for plastics identification

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19