Ultrasonic phased array system for precision cocoa bean sorting
Revolutionary ultrasonic phased array system for contactless cocoa bean sorting, optimizing efficiency and precision. It offers significant energy savings and eliminates mechanical wear, making it ideal for industrial cocoa processing.
Overview
The ultrasonic phased array system is an innovative technology designed to revolutionize cocoa bean sorting. Utilizing ultrasonic sound waves at 40 kHz, this system creates high-intensity sound pressure points to precisely separate cocoa bean shells and fine particles from nibs without mechanical contact. This contactless method significantly reduces maintenance and energy consumption, offering up to 10 times more energy efficiency compared to traditional pneumatic air-jet systems. Its scalability and adaptability make it suitable for integration into various industrial workflows, particularly in the cocoa processing industry, where efficiency and reliability are paramount.
Technical specifications
- Ultrasonic frequency: Operates at 40 kHz to generate inaudible sound waves
- Contactless operation: Eliminates mechanical wear and blockages
- Energy efficiency: Consumes significantly less power compared to compressed air systems
- High precision: Achieves high separation resolution with tunable forces for individual particles
- Scalability: Modular design allows adaptation to different material types and industrial throughputs
- Compatibility: Integrates seamlessly with existing vision systems and workflows
Technology readiness level
Currently, the ultrasonic phased array system is at Technology Readiness Level 4, having been validated under controlled laboratory conditions. The system is prepared for further development towards TRL 5, contingent upon access to an industrial pilot setting to refine and test the prototype in real-world conditions.
About Acoustofab
AcoustoFab specializes in advanced acoustic levitation technology, using custom-built arrays of ultrasonic transducers to create acoustic holograms for contact-free material manipulation. By algorithmically adjusting transducer timing, the system generates focused pressure fields that can precisely move, sort, and hold small solids and liquids in mid-air. This software-defined robotics approach allows for high-speed, contamination-free processing without the need for physical contact surfaces, distinguishing the technology from traditional mechanical handling methods. Based on over a decade of academic research in acoustic holography and acoustophoresis, the company provides a modular platform that integrates these acoustic forces into existing industrial and laboratory workflows.
This technology is critical for industries such as life sciences, pharmaceutical research, agritech, and advanced manufacturing, where maintaining sample integrity and minimizing contamination are paramount. By eliminating physical contact, AcoustoFab’s solutions reduce the risk of cross-contamination, minimize waste, and lower operational maintenance costs associated with surface cleaning or chemical disposal. Applications include automated high-speed seed sorting, precise liquid handling for biotechnology, and multi-material 3D printing. The company’s systems offer researchers and production facilities a sustainable, flexible, and scalable method to automate delicate tasks that were previously difficult or impossible to perform with conventional contact-based robotics.
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