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The Pistachio Blaster (below) sends nuts, in single file, from the hopper (1) to a metal block (2). A microphone (3) attached to a computer (4) picks up the sound of each nut as it strikes the block.

The computer analyzes the sound and uses it to distinguish ripe open-shell nuts from lower quality, closed-shell ones. The computer then directs the sorter (5) to send closed-shell nuts (6) to the reject bin while accepting those with open shells (7).