SYDNEY, NOV 25 – Scientists at Australia’s University of New South Wales (UNSW) succeeded in creating a new method to detect the freshness of milk using the vibration motor found in every smartphone.
According to Oddity Centralthe technological innovation called VibMilk allows users to check whether the milk is spoiled or still safe to drink without having to open the bottle.
The system uses a vibration motor and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) found in a smartphone to assess the freshness of milk with high accuracy.
According to Professor Wen Hu from UNSW’s Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering, VibMilk uses a non-invasive approach to test milk without opening the lid, thus reducing the risk of bacterial contamination that can accelerate milk spoilage.
“Normally, consumers smell or taste the milk to know if it is still good, but that requires opening the container. With VibMilk, the freshness of milk can be tested without opening the bottle,” he said.
The technology also has the potential to reduce the wastage of dairy products which is currently estimated to reach 20 percent of the total.
VibMilk is designed by understanding the physical changes that occur when milk spoils, i.e. bacteria increase in milk, lactate levels increase and glucose decreases resulting in changes in physical properties such as density, viscosity and surface conditions.
A smartphone with VibMilk technology will send vibrations through the milk and record the return signal, where the signal is then analyzed using a machine learning algorithm to determine the pH level of the milk at 23 different levels.
The study found that the technology was able to predict the pH level of milk with an average accuracy of 98.35 percent, while 100 percent accuracy was achieved to determine fresh milk and the test was conducted using four different types of smartphones.
According to UNSW, the technology is more practical than previous methods that required expensive equipment, only worked with translucent milk containers, or were too difficult for widespread use.
With VibMilk, users can check the milk directly before using it, avoiding food waste or the risk of food poisoning.
The technology is expected to greatly benefit consumers around the world by reducing food waste and ensuring food safety. – Agency
