LAUSR

Impact damage of apple was quantitatively investigated by hyperspectral imaging (HSI) technology within the wavelength region of 900–1700 nm. The pressure-sensitive film technique was used to measure damaged area. Statistical analysis shows a significant linear correlation between absorbed energy and damaged area, contact load, and damaged area with coefficients of determination (R2) of 0.93 and 0.92. Then, the quantitative relationships between damaged area, absorbed energy, contact load, undamaged firmness, and spectral data were established by partial least square regression (PLS). The best prediction performance yielded by the PLS model measured by coefficient of determination (RP2) and root mean square errors of prediction (RMSEP) values were 0.8 and 116.73 mm2 for damaged area, 0.89 and 0.075 J for absorbed energy, 0.53 and 67.38 N for contact load, and 0.65 and 19.99 N for undamaged firmness, respectively. The overall results demonstrate the potential of HSI for rapid and nondestructive prediction of impact damage to apples.