REAL-TIME SORTING OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS USING LABVIEW AND PLC INTEGRATION: A CASE STUDY ON TOMATOES

By Nguyen Phuong Tra, Nguyen Anh Vu
DOI: 10.37550/tdmu.EJS/2025.02.640

The rising demand for automation in agriculture and manufacturing necessitates efficient, cost-effective sorting systems to replace labor-intensive manual processes. This paper introduces an innovative system integrating a Siemens S7-1200 Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), LabVIEW-based image processing, and OPC (OLE for Process Control) communication for automated tomato sorting. Utilizing real-time vision analysis, the system classifies tomatoes by color and size, offering a low-cost, scalable solution tailored for small-scale industries. A high-resolution camera captures images, processed in LabVIEW using HSV color space and size thresholds, with results relayed via OPC to the PLC, which actuates a stepper motor-driven sorting mechanism. Experimental validation in a controlled setting achieved 92% sorting accuracy and a throughput of 60 tomatoes per minute, surpassing manual sorting in speed and consistency. The modular design supports scalability to other agricultural products, enhancing its practical utility.