Real Instruments

Real solutions for the Real world

At Real Instruments our focus is on innovative solutions to real problems and a commitment to making technology work for you.

 

Our Technologies

AppleIQ

Game changing technology to drive fruit care and reduce waste in your apple post harvest.

TrackIQ

Powerful hybrid monitoring and tracking technology for user-friendly location of AppleIQ.

Insight Analytics

Ground breaking visualization of measured data synchronized with video unlocks valuable insights.

About Us

Looking to cut waste and boost apple post-harvest efficiency?

Real technology to deliver valuable insights is here!

Apples bruise easily

The pursuit of processing apples in large quantities involves a delicate balance between speed and preserving fruit quality. Without the ability to measure the forces responsible for fruit bruising in post-harvest processes, it is hard to justify necessary improvements. Potential ideas for enhancements are frequently based on subjective assessments. It can be difficult to know where to start. We want to help!

Waste has multiple negative effects on your business

Apple bruising during processing leads to reduced shelf life, lower market value, increased food waste, potential mold and disease issues, additional processing costs, and reputational damage. It negatively affects both the economic, environmental and operational aspects of apple processing. But this also represents a significant opportunity!

If you want improvement, you need to measure!

AppleIQ is a revolutionary apple shaped black box flight recorder. Imagine the ability to comprehensively analyze the forces affecting your fruit at each process stage. Picture having precise measurement data alongside synchronized video, you are now the expert in your operations. Consider the immense value of sharing these insights with your team. AppleIQ and Insight Analytics have transformed this imagination into reality.

Ready to measure?

How does this work?

Just place AppleIQ alongside your apples, and it seamlessly integrates into every post-harvest stage, from picking to packing. It precisely measures all the forces that may crush or impact your apples. This information will reveal opportunities to optimize machine performance or uncover unusual sources of fruit damage. Discovering these insights can be truly rewarding!

Revolutionary measurement technology

AppleIQ seamlessly records static compression and dynamic impact forces, effortlessly identifying and tracking force positions across its waterproof surface. This pioneering technology introduces a world-first level of measurement accuracy and clarity. With the shape and weight of an apple AppleIQ replicates an apples behavior to deliver exceptional levels of Insight into fruit care.

User-friendly operation

Initiating and concluding measurement runs couldn’t be easier, thanks to our user-friendly plug-and-play interface. Once your data and videos are uploaded, our powerful Insight Analytics takes care of the rest. You have the freedom to select visualization and report generation tools, empowering you to create and share insights.

Unprecedented Insights

The Insight Analytics software automatically synchronizes video with recorded force data, simplifying the identification of “areas of interest.” The data can be displayed in various formats, incorporating temperature, orientation, barometric pressure, and humidity information. This advanced display flexibility offers unmatched insights to cater to the diverse requirements of team members.

Simple AppleIQ location

TrackIQ is a cutting-edge solution designed for tracking and monitoring AppleIQ within expansive areas. This advanced system is equipped with a radio frequency receiver, GPS functionality, and a user-friendly LED display. The LED screen offers essential information, including directional guidance, signal strength, precise GPS coordinates for Impact Fruit, Impact Track and real-time battery status, ensuring efficient and seamless monitoring.

Specifications

AppleIQ

Measures:

Sixty force sensors on twenty skin sections

Temperature

Barometric pressure

Humidity

Orientation

Features:

Waterproof to 1m (3ft)

Drop proof 0.6m (2ft)

Long battery life

Washable outer surface

Debris resistance connection

TrackIQ

Features:

LED screen.

Radio Frequency receiver.

Direction indicator.

GPS coordinates for Impactfruit and ImpactTrack.

Long life rechargeable battery.

Insight Analytics Software

Displays:

Peek forces.

Average forces.

Force positions.

Energy absorbed at position.

Energy hotspot visualizer.

Environmental sensor data.

Graphic view

Displays orientation.

Displays the five highest forces and their positions.

Forces are colored based on force size.

Size of force and force tracking number is displayed.

Features:

Video/Data controls for viewing, zooming and navigating through data.

Auto report generation.

Data export option.

FAQ

Common questions we get asked.

A bruise occurs when the cells walls which make up the flesh of an apple rupture due to excess force. This causes discoloration and a degrading of the area as oxygen and enzymes break down the flesh.

Consumers are increasingly demanding apples of consistent high quality. Mechanical damage, which can occur during harvesting, packing house operations, handling and transport, represents a serious hazard to quality and has the potential to signficantly reduce the value of the product.

Modern sizers and graders excel at detecting and sorting out bruised fruit. However, pinpointing the origins of bruising is a more complex challenge. Much of the bruise damage in fruit occurs due to static and dynamic forces during transportation and handling. With the advent of AppleIQ technology, we can now measure all forces at play throughout the post-harvest process, allowing AppleIQ to unlock this crucial knowledge.

 

Yes. AppleIQ measures crush, dynamic and impact forces directly, captured video is synchronized to identify “areas of interest”. These Insights are used to guide optimizing processes and equipment for fruit care and efficiency.

TrackIQ seamlessly links with AppleIQ through reliable radio frequency technology, enabling straightforward monitoring and tracking. The LED screen on TrackIQ provides information on the direction, battery status, and GPS location of both the AppleIQ and TrackIQ. This feature allows for extended monitoring over larger distances when necessary.

Apple bruising occurs when excessive force is applied directly to the apple’s surface. AppleIQ accurately measures this force. Using acceleration to determine force is complicated because it requires information about the mass, stiffness, and speed of all objects involved in the impact. When stationary objects are pressed together, the acceleration measurement becomes zero, making acceleration-based measurements of limited value.

 

Gallery