Spectuna - cutting and classyfing frozen tuna using hyperspectral image

News

SpecTUNA was presented within XXVI Simposio Nacional de Seguridad Alimentaria

On June 7th 2022 took place in Madrid the XXVI Simposio Nacional de Seguridad Alimentaria Conference. SpecTUNA was presented as an example of digitization trends in the agro-sea food industry where digitization and the correct use of data can contribute to changes in relation to risk managemet in food safety.

SpecTUNA in the Seminar Dixitalización e datos no sector primario

On 1rst June 2022 SpecTUNA participated in the Seminar «Dixitalización e datos no sector primario» (Digitization and data in the primary sector) held within the framework of the Interreg HIBA project and organized by DATALIFE and GAIN, where was presented the diagnosis of digital maturity of the Galician primary ecosystem. (watch video)

SpecTUNA as a relevant Aplication of Photonics to the Agri-Food Sector

SpecTUNA was presented at the webinar «Applications of Photonics to the Agri-Food Sector» held on 24th May 2022 within the framework of the Photonics4Bakery project, where the advantages offered by these technologies were presented for the industries of the sector. (watch video)

The Need

Manually

The loins need to be cut in order to be cooked. Nowadays, this job of de-heading, de-fining, and cutting in two halves, is done piece by piece with manually operated industrial band saws. This task is highly risky, the tunas are bulky pieces, difficult to handle (moreover when frozen).

High Heterogeneity

Currently each batch of frozen tuna presents a high heterogeneity, both biometric and nutritional. The thermal cooking and serilization processes treat this raw material equally. The next generation tools are necessary.

Competitiveness

Improving efficiency in the process, is critical for the competitiveness of European industry, especially if we DIMENSION the case.

The Dimension

In 2015 Tuna species accounted in the EU for two-hundred-thousnad tonnes (203.000) and eight-hundred and eighty-seven million Euros (million). From it, sixty three percent (63%) was canned tuna. Canned tuna is the most consumed fish product in the EU and by far, the most-important-product of the fish-product canning industry. Canned tuna directly provides 20.000 jobs and creates 60.000 indirect jobs in supporting sectors

The European Union is the third-largest producer in the world, after Indonesia and Japan.
This demonstration project for tuna can be applied to a large part of the food industry for other products.
The European Market of Food Processing Machinery will have a continuous growth. Market drivers are rising demand for food, rising demand for processed foods, and consumers' interest for the TUNA good nutritional characteristics.

The Solution

The Solution consist of four modules:

The fish bin-picking

Which consists of a sensorized robot with an artificial vision and 3D laser scanning, be able to extract pieces of frozen fish from a container, where they are located at random.

Hyperspectral Vision Technology System

The food will be characterized with a Hyperspectral Vision Technology System. Hyperspectral is also jnown as chemical vision. Parameters such as The Amount of Fat, salt, protein or moisture in the fish can be determined online in a non-invasive way.

Cutting

Head and tail cutting is carried out, usual tasks before continuing its procesing.

Classification

Taking advantage of the parameters measured above, the fish will be classified.

The Plan

Our PLAN is building the first 1:1 scale demo unit of SpecTUNA.
Currently, we count with a prototype of each module.

Along this project we will iteratively design, build, test and re-engineer each of the modules, and execute a two-step demo experience:

First ANFACO's and then in LA GONDOLA'
These demo experiences will allow us to perform a
market-oriented design, paving its succes.

The Challenge

SpecTUNA is highly ambitious and represents a big disruption in the state-of-the-art.

The Technological Challenge is important: to automate the timely processing of bulky units with irregular shapes, optimize cuts and
minimize discards.

Another great leap is The Calibration of the Hyperspectral Technology, that will provide physicochemical and nutritional parameters to allow
quality control.

We will apply the principles of Industry 4.0 to a currently very traditional and crafty sector.

The Results

The four main expected results and impacts are explained hereon:

Icrease competitiveness of the European fish canning sector mainly formed by family-own SMEs, and contribute to better positioning the sector against non-EU competitors such as Indonesia and Thailand.

Progress in the fight against accidents at work and improve the working conditions at the fish processing sector.

Foster the adoption of Industry 4.0 at the fish processing sector. In addition, facilitate the uptake of hyperspectral image technologies in the food procesing sector.

Contribute to provide consumers with high-quality, highly nutritional and trustworthy products by developing hyperspectral measurement of all fish canned.