RF/microwave technology application for identification of stored-grain insects under electric fields

Abstract

The application of microwave technology to identify the species and quantities of seven stored-grain insects was investigated with a new measuring method using a sensor and an electric field device in the frequency range of 0.3-1200 MHz. Three different constant voltages (0, 20, and 40 V) and three different frequencies of alternating electric fields (0.01 Hz, 0.5 MHz, and 5 MHz) were tested to address the possibility of improving the identification of insects. Two-band pairs were optimized in the frequency range to maximize the identification and detection recognition rate using neural network techniques. The new measuring method resulted in high recognition rates for identifying both species and quantity of insects. Recognition rates of 95.5, 83.3, and 90.9% were achieved at the band-pair (660.1 and 768.1 MHz) under 0, 20, and 40 V constant electric fields respectively. Similarly, recognition rates of 90.0, 87.1, and 87.1% were respectively achieved at the band-pair (174.3 and 432.2 MHz) under 0.01 Hz, 0.5 MHz, and 5 MHz alternating electric fields.