TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

BIOGRAPHICAL DATA ................................................................................................ ii

ACKNOWLEDGMENT ................................................................................................. iv

ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................x

INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................1

Objectives of the Study ............................................................................................2

Significance of the Study .........................................................................................3

Time and Place of the Study ....................................................................................4

Scope and Limitation of the Study...........................................................................4

Definition of Technical Terms ................................................................................4

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE ......................................................................8

METHODOLOGY ..........................................................................................................22

Materials ................................................................................................................22

Conceptual Framework ..........................................................................................23

Methods..................................................................................................................25

Data Gathering ...........................................................................................25

Hardware Design and Construction ...........................................................26

Training Data Set .......................................................................................28

Software Development...............................................................................29

Test and Evaluation....................................................................................35

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ......................................................................................38

Data Gathering .......................................................................................................38

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 Hardware Design and Construction Technical Evaluation ....................................38

Software Development...........................................................................................41

Training Data Set ...................................................................................................42

System Operation ...................................................................................................47

Test and Evaluation................................................................................................52

Statistical Analysis of the Device ..........................................................................60

Cost Computation ..................................................................................................60

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS ..................................62

Summary ................................................................................................................62

Conclusion .............................................................................................................63

Recommendations ..................................................................................................64

REFERENCES .................................................................................................................65

APPENDICES ..................................................................................................................67

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 LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Page

1 The parts of a coconut ..............................................................................................9

2 Edges of a coconut .................................................................................................10

3 Improvised sound box ............................................................................................15

4 Acoustic property tester .........................................................................................18

5 Conceptual framework of the study .......................................................................25

6 Block diagram of the device ..................................................................................28

7 The input workspace for ANN ...............................................................................30

8 The output workspace for ANN .............................................................................31

9 The test workspace for ANN .................................................................................32

10 The graph of regression for CoconutRange network .............................................33

11 The program flowchart of the system ....................................................................34

12 The system flowchart of the equipment .................................................................36

13 Training data set and evaluation matching ............................................................37

14 Pictorial circuit diagram of the equipment.............................................................40

15 Schematic circuit diagram of the device ................................................................41

16 Plot of training data set ..........................................................................................45

17 Correlation coefficient (R) .....................................................................................47

18 The initial display of the device .............................................................................48

19 Proper handling of the device ................................................................................49

20 Proper positioning of the device on the coconut ....................................................49

21 The device reading the frequency ..........................................................................50

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22 Final output of the device ......................................................................................51

23 Improper position signage of the device ................................................................51

24 Proper charging of the coconut maturity detector device ......................................52

25 Verification of the coconut classification by the coconut vendors ........................53

26 Opening the coconut for verification purposes by Engr. Rocillo ..........................53

27 The proponents using the device in evaluation at Barangay Kaytapos, Indang ....54

28 The author operating the device in evaluation at ES Building ..............................55

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 LIST OF TABLES

Table Page

1 Final average frequency reading of coconut ..........................................................42

2 ANN result in getting the frequency range of each coconut stage ........................46

3 Evaluation of the equipment ..................................................................................56

4 Comparison between the device’s and coconut vendor’s reading .........................58

5 The device’s reading ..............................................................................................59

6 The coconut vendor’s reading ................................................................................59

7 Performance measurements of the equipment .......................................................60

8 Performance measurements of the coconut vendor/retailer ...................................60

9 Cost computation of materials ...............................................................................61

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 LIST OF APPENDIX TABLES

Appendix Page
Table

1 Frequency reading on ridges of coconuts for training data set ..............................69

2 Frequency reading on faces of coconuts for training data set ................................71

3 Final average frequency reading of coconut for training data set ..........................73

4 ANN classification applied to testing and evaluation ............................................75

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 LIST OF APPENDIX FIGURES

Appendix Page
Figure

1 Pictorial circuit diagram of the device ...................................................................87

2 Schematic circuit diagram of the equipment .........................................................87

3 Initial circuitry of the device ..................................................................................88

4 Buying of coconuts in market for data gathering...................................................88

5 A coconut vendor packing the bought coconuts ....................................................88

6 The bought coconuts for data gathering.................................................................89

7 The authors with the device and coconuts for training data set .............................89

8 The developers with the equipment and another coconut vendor..........................89

9 Applying the device on the coconut for data gathering .........................................90

10 The device acquiring the frequency from a coconut ..............................................90

11 Listing of frequencies obtained ..............................................................................90

12 The device and the sample coconuts (unopened and opened) ...............................91

13 Actual front view of coconut maturity detector .....................................................91

14 Sketched front view of coconut maturity detector .................................................91

15 Actual rear view of coconut maturity detector ......................................................92

16 Actual top view of coconut maturity detector........................................................92

17 Sketched top view of coconut maturity detector....................................................92

18 Actual bottom view of coconut maturity detector .................................................93

19 Actual side views of coconut maturity detector (a) Right (b) Left ........................93

20 Sketched side views of coconut maturity detector (a) Right (b) Left ....................94

21 Sketched 3D views of the equipment.....................................................................94

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22 Initial testing of coconut maturity detector for request of evaluation ....................95

23 The author preparing the coconuts for evaluation .................................................95

24 The researchers with some coconut for evaluation at Indang, Cavite ...................96

25 The proponents evaluating the coconut maturity detector .....................................96

26 The coconut farmers/retailers that opened the coconuts ........................................97

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 LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix Page

1 Tables ..................................................................................................................68

2 Figures.................................................................................................................86

3 Computation........................................................................................................98

4 Program Listing ................................................................................................100

5 User Manual of the Equipment .........................................................................111

6 Specification Sheets ..........................................................................................114

7 Forms ................................................................................................................142

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