Sorting by color using Microcontrollers

Interesting how the human mind works. Take for example the video below… Somewhere in a crowded candy factory people make Skittles in all sorts of colors and then mix them up so people can enjoy some variety.

… just to be sorted back to each color 5 minutes later.  (I always loved the red once more!!!)

So how does this actually work? Very simple… Each color emits a different spectrum of light. By linking a color sensor like the TAOS TCS3200 to a micro-controller your micro-controller will be able to distinguish different colors.

The color sensor works by turning light waves entering its lens into electronics pulses for the Micro-controller to process. The Micro-controller counts the number of pulse it receives and compares it to a color table it stores.

So you might be asking what can this be used for? Here are a few examples :

• Fruit sorting machines can sort fruits by ripeness  using color.
• Rice,grain and seeds gets sorted by color.
• Recycling machines can sort crushed glass by color.
• Color matching machines uses it in the printing industry.
• Apparently it’s also used for sorting Skittles…