Duck Egg Setter System with Sorting Process Using Image Processing

• Main Authors: Reyes, Ryan C., Mendoza, Roel M., Sevilla, Rovenson V., Calagday, John Gelvic C., General, Renielle Carl C., Leyco, Samantha Joynna J., Lozano, Jose Noel C., Monteser, Kristine R., Fernandez, Edmon O., Dela Cruz, Jennifer C.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: egg candling; egg incubation; egg setting; Image processing; Process control; Programming; Prototypes; Software; sorting process; Technological innovation; Temperature distribution
• ISSN: 2770-0682
• DOI: 10.1109/HNICEM60674.2023.10589163

The project focused on the development of a machine that automates the duck egg incubation and sorting process with the utilization of image processing for the balut and penoy production industries in the Philippine Agricultural Sector. The study attempted to mitigate the challenges and problems faced in the traditional setup of duck egg-incubated production systems. The project involved the fabrication of a machine that is capable of moving eggs through three different processes, specifically incubation, candling, and sorting, by means of motor mechanisms, computer programming, and image processing. The incubation stage utilized a ceramic bulb setup as a source of heat, and a pre-programmed microcontroller allowed a consistent temperature in the egg incubator cabin by activating an exhaust fan, while the system was able to maintain a stable humidity ranging from 50% to 80% and a temperature varying from 36°C to 38°C. The candling stage was equipped with a vertically moving camera surface linked with an image processing threshold software program to detect the maturity of the embryo inside the eggs. After several trials, test results showed 66.67% to 91.67% accuracy in correctly determining the correct egg maturity stage in the candling stage, and 91.67% of all processed eggs have not incurred any damage caused by movement from the conveyors and sorting mechanisms.