Thousand kernel weight (TKW) is an important parameter for the evaluation of grain yield. The traditional measurement method relies on manual steps: weighing and counting. In this paper, we developed a system for the automated evaluation of thousand kernel weight that combines a weighing module and Android devices, called “gainTKW”. The system is able to collect the weight information from the weighing module through a serial port using the RS232-micro USB cable. In the imaging process, we adopt a k-means clustering segmentation algorithm to solve the problem of uneven lighting. We used the marker-controlled watershed algorithm and area threshold method to count the number of kernels that are touching one another. These algorithms were implemented based on the OpenCV (Open Source Computer Vision) libraries. The system tested kernel images of six species taken with the Android device under different lighting conditions. The algorithms in this study can solve the segmentation problems caused by shadows, as well. The appropriate numbers of kernels, of different species, are counted with an error ratio upper limit of 3%. The application is convenient and easy to operate. For the experiments, we can prove the efficiency and accuracy of the developed system by comparing the results between the manual method and the proposed application.

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In this paper, an aerodynamic shape optimization platform for compressor blade is introduced. The platform divided into modules on flow field calculation, optimization method, parameterization and grid deformation. Flow field calculation of compressor blade is based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD), which is used for multi-block structure grid. Particle swarm optimization (PSO) is built as optimization method module, in which cost functions are calculated parallel. In parametric module, 3D blade is decomposed in a series of characteristic sections and the section is parameterized by Hicks-Henne function. Algebraic interpolation method is used for grid deformation, which is a high efficiency and robust method. Two cases of rotor 37 are presented. The result of the first case shows that, the CFD code of the optimal platform is reliable and robust. For the second case, the optimal platform is verified by designing rotor 37. The result shows that, the optimal platform is effective for design of compressor blade.