AdaBoost classifiers for pecan defect classification

One of the constraints in the adoption of machine vision inspection systems for food products is low classification accuracy. This study attempts to improve pecan defect classification accuracy by using machine learning classifiers: AdaBoost and support vector machine (SVM). X-ray images of good and defective pecans, 100 each, were segmented and features were extracted. Twenty classification runs were made to adjust parameters and 300 classification runs to compare classifiers. The Real AdaBoost classifier gave average classification accuracy of 92.2% for the Reverse water flow segmentation method and 92.3% for the Twice Otsu segmentation method. The Linear SVM classifier gave average classification accuracy of 90.1% for the Reverse water flow method and 92.7% for the Twice Otsu method. Computational time for the classifiers varied by two orders of magnitude: Bayesian (10⁻⁴ s), SVM (10⁻⁵ s), and AdaBoost (10⁻⁶ s). AdaBoost classifiers improved classification accuracy by 7% when Bayesian accuracy was poor (less than 89%). The AdaBoost classifiers also adapted well to data variability and segmentation methods. A minimalist AdaBoost classifier, more suitable for real time applications, using fewer features can be built. Overall, the selected AdaBoost classifiers improved classification accuracy, reduced classification time, and performed consistently better for pecan defect classification.