\n<\/aside>\nScientists have created an AI-powered \u201cgrape ripeness detector\u201d designed to make wine production more efficient, combining the use of technology with vineyard expertise in pursuit of the best wine for consumers.<\/p>\n
The new portable handheld sensor provides instant and accurate data about whether grapes are ready to harvest, scientists in the UK say.<\/p>\n
Given that harvesting grapes is time-sensitive, researchers at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) have invented a portable optical sensor that uses state-of-the-art machine learning to\u00a0give winemakers instant information\u00a0about the ripeness of their grapes, news agency SWNS reported.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The device removes the need for manual sampling and slow destructive testing, the researchers said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xuechun Wang, a post-doctoral researcher at QMUL, specializes in applying\u00a0machine learning algorithms\u00a0to building intelligent sensors.\u00a0<\/p>\nScientists have created an AI-powered \u201cgrape ripeness detector\u201d designed to make wine production more efficient. DragonImages \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe new portable handheld sensor provides instant and accurate data about whether grapes are ready to harvest, scientists in the UK say. terovesalainen \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cOur technology uses optical sensors to detect how grapes absorb and reflect different wavelengths of light,\u201d Wang said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAs grapes ripen, their chemical composition changes, which alters their optical response.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy analyzing these spectral patterns using AI algorithms, we can estimate grape ripeness directly on the vine without damaging the grape.\u201d<\/p>\n
The sensor is known as RipenAI.<\/p>\n
Wang said it could be held by hand, allowing grape pickers to instantly check ripeness before harvesting across the wine industry.<\/p>\nAn aerial view of a vineyard is seen along Santa Rosa Road in the Santa Ynez Valley, California. Chuck Place \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nIt could also be installed across a vineyard to monitor grapes continuously for ripeness and crop health, she said.<\/p>\n
The QMUL team is working on integrating the technology into a\u00a0robotic grape picker\u00a0in a related project with Extend Robotics and Saffron Grange Vineyard in Essex, SWNS reported.<\/p>\n
The technology is said to promise significant business benefits for winemakers.<\/p>\n
Nick Edwards, a director at Saffron Grange Vineyard, said, \u201cHarvesting grapes at the right time is one of the most important decisions a grower makes when producing\u00a0the best quality wine. This requires careful monitoring of key parameters such as sugar and acidity from veraison through to harvest.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s essential that grapes are picked at their correct level of ripeness. The\u00a0wine style\u00a0ultimately defines the ideal harvest window, dictating the balance of sugar, acidity and taste the winemaker is seeking.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStart your day with all you need to know\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMorning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u201cRipening also varies across vineyards,\u201d Edwards also noted, \u201cdepending on factors such as clonal variety, soil type, location, exposure and\u00a0highly changeable weather.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt Saffron Grange, we focus exclusively on producing premium-quality sparkling wines, and data plays a critical role in our harvest decisions. Timely access to accurate ripeness information allows us to forward plan harvest labor and winery preparation with confidence.<\/p>\n
\u201cRipenAI will support this approach by providing non-destructive, real-time insight into grape ripeness across our vineyard.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the new technology, winemakers will have \u201cthe ability to repeatedly assess the same bunches throughout the ripening period \u2026 [delivering] an even clearer picture of ripeness progression than traditional destructive sampling,\u201d SWNS reported.\u00a0<\/p>\nThe technology is said to promise significant business benefits for winemakers. Midea \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cHarvesting grapes at precisely the right time also helps minimize the need for interventions such as de-acidification \u2026 supporting the production of higher-quality sparkling wines.\u00a0We are very excited\u00a0to be part of this project.\u201d<\/p>\n
Armed with encouraging early data from field trials at Saffron Grange Vineyard, the scientists are seeking more vineyards, agritech companies and even fruit orchards to help them test a new prototype during the next harvest season, they say.<\/p>\n
Professor Lei Su of QMUL, referencing Britain\u2019s rapidly expanding wine industry, added, \u201cRipenAI will shape the future of smart harvesting for a growing industry where timing and precision [make] the difference between success and failure.\u201d<\/p>\n
The technology is adaptable for\u00a0apples, berries\u00a0and more, the creators say.<\/p>\n
Unlike the UK\u2019s wine industry, which is relatively small though growing, the US is the fourth-leading wine producer in the world, after Italy, Spain and France, according to industry experts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In New York, Wine Enthusiast recently named the Finger Lakes as the\u00a0American Wine Region of the Year,<\/a>\u00a0a feat Gov. Kathy Hochul\u2019s office said \u201crecognizes the region\u2019s world-class winemaking, sustainable practices and collaborative community that have helped define New York State as a leader in American viticulture.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nSource link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Scientists have created an AI-powered \u201cgrape ripeness detector\u201d designed to make wine production more efficient, combining the use of technology with vineyard expertise in pursuit of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":48833,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-48832","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48832","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=48832"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48832\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/48833"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=48832"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=48832"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=48832"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}