A method includes identifying a target surface in an environment of a robotic device. The method further includes controlling a moveable component of the robotic device to move along a motion path relative to the target surface, wherein the moveable component comprises a light source and a camera. The method additionally includes receiving a plurality of images from the camera when the moveable component is at a plurality of poses along the motion path and when the light source is illuminating the target surface. The method also includes determining bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) image data, wherein the BRDF image data comprises the plurality of images converted to angular space with respect to the target surface. The method further includes determining, based on the BRDF image data and by applying at least one pre-trained machine learning model, a material property of the target surface.

In the detection of the presence of a biomarker or the like in a sample of a flowable substance, e.g. a powder or a liquid, usually a body fluid, such as blood, urine, or saliva, for example, a disposable sample receiver (3) is used, which has a receiving chamber (301) that is dimensioned to receive a predetermined volume and is surrounded by a depression (303) receiving any excess volume for which there is no room in the receiving chamber (301). The receiving chamber (301) has a bottom outlet (302) closed by a removable strip (33), e.g. a plastic strip or foil. Upon pulling away the strip (33) from the bottom outlet, the sample in the receiving chamber is emptied into a flow path (32) leading to at least one detection compartment (321) permitting direct visual inspection. Preferably, disposable sample receiver (3) is used in a detector assembly (1) including an electronic camera (23), a CPU (26) and a display (22). Hereby, the volume of the sample to be analyzed will always be the same, and by controlling the exact point of time when the sample is passed on into the flow path (32), a high degree of repeatability and accuracy is achieved, and thereby also a fail-safe system.

A method of image processing includes receiving a first image of human skin. The first image corresponds to a first, uniform broadband illumination condition. The method also includes receiving a second image which has the same field of view and contents as the first image. The second image corresponds to a second illumination condition which comprises a uniform narrowband illumination condition. The method also includes processing the first and second images to fit parameter maps for a spectral bidirectional scattering surface reflectance distribution function skin model. The parameter maps include a modelled melanin concentration, a modelled haemoglobin concentration, a modelled melanin blend-type fraction and a modelled epidermal haemoglobin fraction. At least three of the parameter maps are independent.

A method includes identifying a target surface in an environment of a robotic device. The method further includes controlling a moveable component of the robotic device to move along a motion path relative to the target surface, wherein the moveable component comprises a light source and a camera. The method additionally includes receiving a plurality of images from the camera when the moveable component is at a plurality of poses along the motion path and when the light source is illuminating the target surface. The method also includes determining bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) image data, wherein the BRDF image data comprises the plurality of images converted to angular space with respect to the target surface. The method further includes determining, based on the BRDF image data and by applying at least one pre-trained machine learning model, a material property of the target surface.

A method of image processing includes receiving a first image of human skin. The first image corresponds to a first, uniform broadband illumination condition. The method also includes receiving a second image which has the same field of view and contents as the first image. The second image corresponds to a second illumination condition which comprises a uniform narrowband illumination condition. The method also includes processing the first and second images to fit parameter maps for a spectral bidirectional scattering surface reflectance distribution function skin model. The parameter maps include a modelled melanin concentration, a modelled haemoglobin concentration, a modelled melanin blend-type fraction and a modelled epidermal haemoglobin fraction. At least three of the parameter maps are independent.

An apparatus for inspecting containers includes a rotation device which is adapted to rotate the container about the axis of symmetry; a camera sensitive to said predetermined electromagnetic radiation and with the container located in the field of view thereof; a processing unit to control the rotation device to move the container at a first angular speed constant for a first time period; acquiring at least a first and a second series of images of a portion of the container in a rotation thereof through 360°; to identify defective areas having at least one characteristic different from the characteristics of adjacent areas, generating first and second maps of the defective areas; to compare the position of the defective areas of the maps; to establish that first impurities are present in the container or in the liquid contained in the container.

Among other thing, the present invention provides solution to the problem, particularly, the present invention certain surfaces and certain sample holder to improve the sensitivity, speed, and easy-to-use of an optical signal based assays, such as colorimetric assays or fluorescence assays.

A portable colorimetric assay system includes an opto-mechanical reader configured to be detachably mounted to a mobile phone having a camera or other camera-containing portable electronic device. The opto-mechanical reader includes one or more light sources configured to illuminate a test sample holder and control sample holder disposed in the opto-mechanical reader along an optical path aligned with a camera of the mobile phone or other camera-containing portable electronic device. One or more serum separation membranes are disposed in the opto-mechanical reader and define a sample receiving pad configured to receive a blood sample. A moveable serum collection membrane is membrane is also disposed in the reader and is configured to contact the sample receiving pad in a first position and moveable to a second position where the serum collection membrane is disposed inside the test sample holder.

A method to determine a reduction rate of a recovery boiler using optical information from a chemical smelt sample. A processor is used to read a digital frame at least part of which represents the chemical smelt sample of the recovery boiler. An area of interest is determined from the digital frame read comprising at least part of the area in the digital frame representing the chemical smelt sample. Of the pixel values of the area of interest, one or more spectral characteristic values correlating with the change of reduction rate are determined. The reduction rate of the recovery boiler is determined using a reduction rate function of one or more of the determined spectral characteristic values weighted at predetermined weights.

An apparatus, and method of operating the same, detects changes in biomass accumulating on a surface of a substrate while minimizing bulk effect. The apparatus includes a sensor substrate and two illumination sources. A first illumination source generates a first light having a first central wavelength. A second illumination source generates a second light having a second central wavelength different than the first wavelength. The first and second light are mixed to produce a combined light. An analyte solution is introduced to the sensor substrate. Incident light of the combined light is reflected from the sensor substrate to produce a signal. The signal is imaged with a camera to obtain a reflectance. Reflectance produced by the combined light is not affected by variations in the dielectric properties of the analyte solution. A biomass accumulated on the substrate is computed based on the reflectance.