It looks like fruit, and acts like fruit, but this new sensor developed by the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) is secretly a spy.
Empa’s sensor mimics the feel, size and texture of fruit to provide a better monitoring system, researchers say, because sensors are housed in the core of a model with the feel, shape and texture of actual fruit. It’s also packed along with the fruit. Previously, conditions were measured manually, with a technician piercing the skin of real samples.
“And even this process has drawbacks,” according to an Empa news release. “To carry out the measurement, the technician usually takes a piece of fruit from a cardboard box in the front row of pallets in the container, which in turn distorts the result. Fruit that is closer to the outside of the transport container is better refrigerated than the fruit on the inside.”
This new technology could help prevent container loads of fruit from being rejected and possibly destroyed. Initial tests on the new technology are ongoing. Researchers are looking at ways to include wireless connectivity to allow real time tracking.
They’re also testing how the types of sensors vary with different varieties of fruit. So far, they’ve looked at Braeburn and Jonagold apples, Kent mangoes, oranges and Cavendish bananas. To create sensors unique to the needs of each piece of fruit, it is X-rayed, and a computer algorithm is used to create the average shape and texture.
Models are built from water, carbohydrates and polystyrene, and a mold is produced on a 3D printer.