The RF–Absolute Gradient Method for Localizing Wheat Moisture Content’s Abnormal Regions with 2D Microwave Scanning Detection

High moisture content (MC) harms wheat storage quality and readily leads to mold growth. Accurate localization of abnormal/high-moisture regions enables early warning, ensuring proper storage and reducing economic losses. The present study introduces the 2D microwave scanning method and investigates...

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Main Authors: Dong Dai, Zhenyu Wang, Hao Huang, Xu Mao, Yehong Liu, Hao Li, Du Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Agriculture
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/15/1649
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author Dong Dai
Zhenyu Wang
Hao Huang
Xu Mao
Yehong Liu
Hao Li
Du Chen
author_facet Dong Dai
Zhenyu Wang
Hao Huang
Xu Mao
Yehong Liu
Hao Li
Du Chen
author_sort Dong Dai
collection DOAJ
description High moisture content (MC) harms wheat storage quality and readily leads to mold growth. Accurate localization of abnormal/high-moisture regions enables early warning, ensuring proper storage and reducing economic losses. The present study introduces the 2D microwave scanning method and investigates a novel localization method for addressing such a challenge. Both static and scanning experiments were performed on a developed mobile and non-destructive microwave detection system to quantify the MC of wheat and then locate abnormal moisture regions. For quantifying the wheat’s MC, a dual-parameter wheat MC prediction model with the random forest (RF) algorithm was constructed, achieving a high accuracy (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.9846, MSE = 0.2768, MAE = 0.3986). MC scanning experiments were conducted by synchronized moving waveguides; the maximum absolute error of MC prediction was 0.565%, with a maximum relative error of 3.166%. Furthermore, both one- and two-dimensional localizing methods were proposed for localizing abnormal moisture regions. The one-dimensional method evaluated two approaches—attenuation value and absolute attenuation gradient—using computer simulation technology (CST) modeling and scanning experiments. The experimental results confirmed the superior performance of the absolute gradient method, with a center detection error of less than 12 mm in the anomalous wheat moisture region and a minimum width detection error of 1.4 mm. The study performed two-dimensional antenna scanning and effectively imaged the high-MC regions using phase delay analysis. The imaging results coincide with the actual locations of moisture anomaly regions. This study demonstrated a promising solution for accurately localizing the wheat’s abnormal/high-moisture regions with the use of an emerging microwave transmission method.
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spelling doaj-art-3143a987ec2d4eb58ef8b6a8df2230a92025-08-20T03:02:55ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722025-07-011515164910.3390/agriculture15151649The RF–Absolute Gradient Method for Localizing Wheat Moisture Content’s Abnormal Regions with 2D Microwave Scanning DetectionDong Dai0Zhenyu Wang1Hao Huang2Xu Mao3Yehong Liu4Hao Li5Du Chen6College of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Electrical and Information Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaCollege of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, ChinaCollege of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, ChinaCollege of Engineering and Technology, Tianjin Agricultural University, Tianjin 300384, ChinaCollege of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, ChinaCollege of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, ChinaHigh moisture content (MC) harms wheat storage quality and readily leads to mold growth. Accurate localization of abnormal/high-moisture regions enables early warning, ensuring proper storage and reducing economic losses. The present study introduces the 2D microwave scanning method and investigates a novel localization method for addressing such a challenge. Both static and scanning experiments were performed on a developed mobile and non-destructive microwave detection system to quantify the MC of wheat and then locate abnormal moisture regions. For quantifying the wheat’s MC, a dual-parameter wheat MC prediction model with the random forest (RF) algorithm was constructed, achieving a high accuracy (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.9846, MSE = 0.2768, MAE = 0.3986). MC scanning experiments were conducted by synchronized moving waveguides; the maximum absolute error of MC prediction was 0.565%, with a maximum relative error of 3.166%. Furthermore, both one- and two-dimensional localizing methods were proposed for localizing abnormal moisture regions. The one-dimensional method evaluated two approaches—attenuation value and absolute attenuation gradient—using computer simulation technology (CST) modeling and scanning experiments. The experimental results confirmed the superior performance of the absolute gradient method, with a center detection error of less than 12 mm in the anomalous wheat moisture region and a minimum width detection error of 1.4 mm. The study performed two-dimensional antenna scanning and effectively imaged the high-MC regions using phase delay analysis. The imaging results coincide with the actual locations of moisture anomaly regions. This study demonstrated a promising solution for accurately localizing the wheat’s abnormal/high-moisture regions with the use of an emerging microwave transmission method.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/15/1649microwave localizing methodwheat’s moisture contentabnormal moisture regionmachine learningmicrowave transmission
spellingShingle Dong Dai
Zhenyu Wang
Hao Huang
Xu Mao
Yehong Liu
Hao Li
Du Chen
The RF–Absolute Gradient Method for Localizing Wheat Moisture Content’s Abnormal Regions with 2D Microwave Scanning Detection
Agriculture
microwave localizing method
wheat’s moisture content
abnormal moisture region
machine learning
microwave transmission
title The RF–Absolute Gradient Method for Localizing Wheat Moisture Content’s Abnormal Regions with 2D Microwave Scanning Detection
title_full The RF–Absolute Gradient Method for Localizing Wheat Moisture Content’s Abnormal Regions with 2D Microwave Scanning Detection
title_fullStr The RF–Absolute Gradient Method for Localizing Wheat Moisture Content’s Abnormal Regions with 2D Microwave Scanning Detection
title_full_unstemmed The RF–Absolute Gradient Method for Localizing Wheat Moisture Content’s Abnormal Regions with 2D Microwave Scanning Detection
title_short The RF–Absolute Gradient Method for Localizing Wheat Moisture Content’s Abnormal Regions with 2D Microwave Scanning Detection
title_sort rf absolute gradient method for localizing wheat moisture content s abnormal regions with 2d microwave scanning detection
topic microwave localizing method
wheat’s moisture content
abnormal moisture region
machine learning
microwave transmission
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/15/1649
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