Produce Handling: AI Vision-Guided Robotic Sorting

Corn doesn’t arrive on a production line in identical condition or position. For Smith Foods, Byron Automation integrated AI-powered machine vision with two ABB robotic pickers to inspect and sort corn as it moves along a conveyor.

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The vision system evaluates ripeness and visible defects, then tracks the corn’s position so the robots can make the appropriate picks.

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By coordinating inspection, tracking, and sorting in one process, the system gives Smith Foods a more consistent way to separate product while reducing repetitive manual handling. It’s a practical example of custom food processing automation built around a product that varies from one piece to the next.