COVER STORY SPONSORED BY JENSEN
items while accepting items belonging to a garment is. The AI in ODIN ensures that the system can differentiate between laundry items that need to be rejected due to the presence of unwanted objects. The
HEIMDAL.Camera is built upon Artificial Intelligence to sort products based on their visual characteristics, such as colors, patterns, textures, and even size. Coupled with intelligent software, HEIMDAL can distinguish between different types of laundry articles. Each project receives its unique set of data, which requires training for the specific sorting composition and product portfolio. Currently, we have various systems in operation for workwear, linen, and mixed products. Even without RFID, HEIMDAL can achieve higher sorting accuracy than manual sorting.
The input for HEIMDAL is also an image, but unlike the X-Ray image, it is a real color photograph. The system is similar to ODIN in that it employs a neural network to create a fingerprint of the item, enabling precise identification, distinguishing between items such as small towels and large towels.
Comparison with our daily dose of AI: ChatGPT
ChatGPT is trained using stored, collected data that is transformed into responses through neural networks. This process mirrors how AI functions in laundries. The key difference lies in our use of human- labeled images, which are defined and entered into the system by humans to ensure the accuracy of the data fed into the neural network. We collaborate closely with software engineers to refine the models, create the correct dataset, and establish an effective training process right from the outset. When training the AI for ODIN, it may occasionally make incorrect choices or mistakes.
The system can only improve when
models are trained through neural networks, not solely relying on predictions - which can be erroneous. Using a neural network is, by definition, an AI approach – successfully applied in ChatGPT, a number of industrial applications in all kinds of industries and in the sorting area of many laundries around the world.
Without AI, it would merely function as a photographic tool, necessitating a substantial team of operators to handle the detection of items. Thanks to AI, the process of sorting soiled textiles is automated to a great extent, reducing the need for human intervention in the removal of detected unwanted items.
Bridging sustainability through the combination of new technology and old technology AI is not going to replace everything. Like many other things, it works best in combination with existing technology, such as X-ray technology. On November 8, 1895, Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen discovered X-rays by coincidence when he was experimenting in the dark and suddenly saw the bones in his hand. Ever since then, we have been familiar with this technology from our visits to the doctor. Today, the X-ray scanner is indispensable for laundries. In addition to all the reasons mentioned, such as detecting and rejecting foreign, unwanted objects such as pens or needles, it is also important to protect the employees working in a laundry. A pen can get stuck in a tunnel washer and ruin a load of white linen, which can obviously cause great frustration for the laundry. If the laundry is processing medical linen, foreign objects such as scalpels or a syringe can be forgotten in the garments and injure or infect the operators. The use of X-ray technology in laundries therefore extends the life of textiles and machinery and provides a safe working environment
for operators in the laundry. This is why robots are making laundries smarter, safer and more sustainable.
Look into the future
Developments are progressing rapidly, and AI will further increase the performance of laundries. However, replacing humans still proves to be a challenging task, given the smart combination of body and brain. Robots, on the other hand, only do what they are told to do, and that is why the best people are needed to build intelligent robots. With their brains at hand, a laundry can start working with artificial intelligence. AI means the construction of a computer designed to function like a small brain. Teaching it involves feeding a significant amount of relevant data paired with the correct solutions. The computer gets smarter as it learns more types of patterns. A notable example is the HEIMDAL. Camera, a system dedicated to visual sorting and primarily used for unmarked garments in laundry processes. Recent advancements in AI mostly occur when we use particular input data to create a quick and straightforward response. If an ordinary person can perform a mental task in less than a second, it is probable that we can automate it now or in the near future with the assistance of AI. These machines enable laundries to handle more complex and specialized tasks. Robots take over repetitive duties, allowing human operators to manage customer-related responsibilities. The laundry industry is stepping into a new era where technology can manage the majority of production processes without human involvement. In collaboration with our partner Inwatec, the Jensen-Group is actively shaping the future of the laundry industry. These cutting-edge innovations in robotics and artificial intelligence increase both, the IQ and productivity in laundries.
TRESPASSER APPREHENDED: The ODIN.Xray scanner uses artificial intelligence to detect foreign objects that do not belong in the washing process
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CAMERA READY: The
HEIMDAL.Camera recognises colours and patterns of unmarked garments with artificial intelligence
October 2024 | LCN 9
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