NRT Presents AI Incorporated Color-Based Optical Sorter

The NRT ColorPlus, along with Max-AI, combines high-resolution color and AI technologies.

FREMONT, CA: National Recovery Technologies (NRT), a Nashville, Tennessee-based company and a Bulk Handling Systems (BHS), Eugene, Oregon, has released the ColorPlus with Max-AI. The ColorPlus with Max-AI incorporates artificial intelligence (AI) with the ColorPlus sorter of NRT. According to a news release, the added layer of AI creates new sorting capabilities. It combines the ColorPlus sorter’s high-volume and high-confidence capabilities with the Max-AI’s person-like identification decisions.

The ColorPlus sorter employs a high-resolution RGB color line-scan sensor to identify and sort recyclables by color. Max-AI technology uses a camera and deep-learning-based AI to pinpoint recyclables similar to humans. According to NRT, Max-AI technology, introduced by BHS in 2017, is already working in more than 100 installations. While most of these installations utilize the technology in collaboration with robotic sorters, the Max-AI VIS (Visual Identification System) is also installed as a piece of stand-alone equipment. It has already been incorporated into the NRT SpydIR with Max-AI.

“From the beginning, we realized Max was a game-changer, not just for robotic sorters but really for the industry on a systemwide level,” said Steve Miller, CEO of BHS.