Investigations Into Force Sensor Characteristics for Food Texture Measurements

This paper details the preliminary investigations into the requirements of force sensors for the measurement of food texture. The research is geared towards the development of a novel instrumented device to measure the spatial distribution of texture in foods and other materials. The device uses an array of pins, which are pushed at a constant rate into the food sample. The force exerted on each pin is individually measured using a tactile pressure measurement system. This device will provide the force versus displacement profile measured for each position in the food sample. The development of the device means that the variance and spatial distribution of texture can be measured. This information can potentially provide the food industry with a new tool to facilitate food science research and product development.