Ultrasonic container screener

An ultrasonic container screener for determining whether liquid type is present in a container, comprising:

• an at least one ultrasonic sensor in communication with a processor and an ultrasonic transducer, wherein the at least one ultrasonic sensor is configured to be placed in contact with a surface of the container and transmit, via the ultrasonic transducer, an ultrasonic signal through the surface of the container and a liquid in the container, and wherein the at least one ultrasonic sensor is configured to receive, via the ultrasonic transducer, a return ultrasonic signal, wherein the at least one ultrasonic sensor is configured to transmit, to the processor, a start time at which the ultrasonic signal was transmitted and a received time at which the return ultrasonic signal was received;
• a temperature sensor in communication with the processor, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to detect temperature of the wall of the container and to transmit the temperature of the wall detected to the processor;
• and
• a dimension sensor in communication with the processor, wherein the dimension sensor is configured to capture an imaging of the container and to transmit, to the processor, the imaging of the container,
• wherein the processor is configured to
• determine, based on the imaging of the container, an overall pathlength for which the ultrasonic signal travels through the liquid;
• determine, based on the temperature of the wall detected and an emissivity of the material composition of the container, a temperature of the liquid;
• determine, based on the start time, the received time, the temperature of the liquid, and the overall pathlength, a speed of the ultrasonic signal through the liquid;
• and
• determine, based on the speed of the ultrasonic signal through the liquid, whether liquid type is present in the container.