Computer vision applications in mineral processing research

The authors describe the successful application of computer vision technology in four research projects at the Tuscaloosa Research Center. One project is directed at quantitative determination of the amount of the mineral apatite in phosphate tailings following flotation. A second project uses the camera as a color sensor, or colorimeter, for estimating chemical composition of solutions. Two other projects, in the general area of flocculant formation, deal with settling rate and particle size analysis. The goal is to obtain statistical information on flocculant characteristics such as size, density, and settling and growth rates from images captured in near-real-time during the formation process. A brief introduction to computer vision and a description of the hardware and software used is included, and the importance of computer vision as a sensor is emphasized.<>