Far-Field Method for The Evaluation of Tropical
Tuber Properties
Onny Setyawatia, Mochammad Rifana, Nanang
Sulistiyantoa, R. Arief Setyawana
a
Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of
Engineering
Brawijaya University
Malang, Indonesia
osetyawati@ub.ac.id
AbstractDetection of the frequency response of tropical
tubers has been evaluated using the Far-Field method. The
tropical tubers used as targets in this research are Porang
(Amorphophallus muelleri Blume) tuber, Iles-iles
(Amorphophallus variabilis) tuber, and sweet potatoes-Cileumbu.
A horn reflector, appropriate to the minimum range in far field
area, is designed as the guide of the electromagnetic wave. The
experiments were performed by varying the distance between the
horn mouth and the target material (tropical tubers). The
optimum distance of 6 up to 10 cm resulted in relatively high
reflected power received by the antenna. Different thicknesses of
the sliced tubers influenced the reflected power. Finite Difference
Time Domain model simulation was conducted for Porang tuber
to examine the power and the distance for different tuber
thicknesses. The results of the measurement show that Porang,
Iles-iles and sweet potatoes-Cileumbu can be detected at range
frequency of 1.745 - 1.88 GHz, 2.185 2.21 GHz, and 2.055 2.17
GHz, respectively. These results will give benefit for modeling the
sensor system for detecting the tubers underground and in the
line-production.
KeywordsFar-Field method; Porang tuber; Range of
frequency; FDTD model simulation
I. INTRODUCTION
Tropical tuber, namely Porang (Amorphophallus muelleri
Blume) is one of high-value agricultural commodities export in
Indonesia. Porang tubers contain 80% to 90% of
Glucomannan, which can be obtained from the root of konjac
plants, and it can be used as dietary fiber or as gelling agents in
foods, in pharmacy, and in airplane industry [1, 2]. Harvesting
of the Porang tubers should be done with caution, since defect
tubers (it might be injured by hoe or other equipment) could be
rotten rapidly, hence, its economic values also decrease very
quickly. A system that can solve the aforementioned problem
would be realized to detect existing tubers under-ground.
Furthermore, the possibility to detect the size of the tubers
under-ground would help farmers to select the tubers during
harvesting. Several plantations detection using ground
penetrating radar system (GPR) has been reported [3,4]. To
Panji Branjanganb
b
Mechatronics Department
Politeknik Kota Malang (POLTEKOM)
Malang, Indonesia
build the system, working frequency of the device must be
selected carefully and the properties of tubers should be
evaluated.
The instruments to detect the quality of agricultural
products is growing rapidly such as tools for the detection of
rice [5], potatoes and beets [6], watermelon [7,8], the level of
ripeness of tomatoes [9], apple [10] and bananas [11,12], and
the detection of moisture and dielectric constants of wheat and
millet [13].
In this study, we present the measurement of frequency
responses of Porang and Iles-iles (Amorphophallus variabilis)
tubers using far-field method. Iles-iles has the same family
with Porang, hence, an evaluation on its response is necessary
to be able to distinguish their properties. In order to compare
their frequency responses to another tuber, here we also present
the measurement of sweet potatoes Cileumbu. The Cileumbu
tuber is one of famous tropical tubers originating from West
Java Province, Indonesia, that can produce very sweet taste like
honey after being roasted.
This research focused on the investigation of the difference
of frequency responses of the tropical tubers, and it is
considered as pre-research for the characterization of Porang
tuber and further for the under-ground tropical tuber detection
system. In addition to the far-field measurement method, a
simulation using FDTD (Finite Difference Time Domain) is
also presented to model the Porang tuber properties and
evaluate their reflected power.
II. METHODOLOGY
A. Far-Field Method
Far-Field radiation area can be depicted in Fig. 1, its area is
defined as range of R > (2D2/) + from the antenna surface,
where D is the antenna aperture and is the wavelength
obtained from the working frequency. In this area the field
distribution is not influenced by distance to antenna, hence,
normally the antenna measurement is performed in Far-Field
area.
Range of the working frequencies and maximum reflected
power are examined in this study. Fig. 2 shows the
measurement block diagram. USB-TG44A tracking generator
having amplitude of -30 dBm to -10 dBm is used to generate
signal with a frequency of 1.4 GHz up to 3.4 GHz transmitting
to the antenna transmitter. The generator has three connectors,
i.e. 10 MHz Ref Out, USB 2.0 and TG Sync. The 10 MHz Ref
Out connector is used for 10 MHz/s signal sampling mode
connected to the input of spectrum analyser, while the USB 2.0
is connected to power supply using USB cable, and TG Sync is
used to synchronize the frequency between the tracking
generator and the spectrum analyser.
Based on theory the radiation area at 1.4 GHz required
minimum distance of 23.5 cm, and at 3.4 GHz it required
minimum distance of 12.04 cm. This calculation is used to
determine the reflector height. The horn reflectors for
transmitter and receiver guided the electromagnetic waves. The
horn reflector is designed with a height of 23 cm, using
aluminium plate with the thickness of 0.5mm. Microstrip
antenna used in this measurement has a frequency range of Fig. 2. Set-up measurement to detect the frequency response of tubers.
1650 to 2700 MHz, and its gain reached the highest value of 10
dBi at 1750 MHz.
The antenna transmitter worked to transmit the RF signal
generated by tracking generator into the target material B. FDTD Model Simulation
(tubers). Meanwhile, the antenna receiver received the Different thicknesses of Porang tuber, 10 mm to 30 mm,
reflected RF signal from the tubers and then the results are were simulated by FDTD model, and the reflected power is
plotted by the spectrum analyser. The optimum distance examined at distance of 20 mm to 140 mm between the
between the antennas is 13 cm. USB-SA44B spectrum reflector and the Porang tuber. The relative permittivity of
analyser with a frequency range of 1 Hz to 4.4 GHz worked to Porang of 5e-12 F/m was selected, the value was obtained from
measure received signal that is amplified by RF preamplifier, it the previous simulation and the measurement [15] for
is supported by USB cable as its supply, hence, the external estimating the dielectric properties of tropical tubers.
power is not required. The spectrum analyser showed the signal Model simulation using FDTD used three different
path loss, i.e. the amplitudes, and RF signal frequencies thicknesses of Porang tuber, i.e. 10 mm, 20 mm and 30 mm,
received by the antenna. Distance between the mouth of horn with the size of 80 mm x 80 mm. The distance between the
reflector and the target material were varied, i.e. 4 cm, 8 cm, 12 horn reflector and the target measurement were varied, as
cm, and 16 cm. The tubers as target measurement are sliced depicted in Fig. 3. The horn had a dimension of 40 x 80 x 230
into approximately twice as big as the horn reflector mouth, mm3 with an air hole. The wave source-port and the receiver-
that is 2x2 cm2. port had the same size, i.e. 10 x 10 x 1 mm3.

Fig. 3. FDTD model simulation for different thickness of Porang and

varied distance (air) between horn and Porang (target).
Fig. 1. Far field radiation area (redraw after [14].
 III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Measurement data were taken based on path loss values
measured from the receiver antenna. The first data were
obtained from the path loss value during the measurement
without the target, and the second data were taken from the
value during the measurement with the tuber as the target. The
tuber reflected the electromagnetic wave which is transmitted
by transmitter, hence, the path-loss value of the transmitter
antenna received by the receiver was lower than the path-loss
value received without the presence of the tuber. The
differences of these path loss values were evaluated as a
function of frequency. The experiments were performed ten Fig. 5. Graphic of path loss difference as a function of frequency,
measurement result of sweet potato Cileumbu with 30 mm in thickness.
times for each selected distance, and the results were the
average values of the measurement data.
Measurement results of Iles-iles tuber, with the thickness of
30 mm are shown in Fig. 4. At the distance of approximately 8
cm to 12 cm between the horn and the tuber, relatively high
reflected power of 0.06 W is obtained at 2.24 GHz. This tuber
can be detected at range frequency of 2.185 GHz up to 2.25
GHz.
Fig. 5 shows the frequency responses of sweet potatoes
Cileumbu, which were sliced into 30 mm in thickness, between
2.055 GHz up to 2.17 GHz. Relatively high reflected power of
0.24 W was obtained at 2.115 GHz measured at 8 cm distance
between the horn and the Cileumbu tuber.
Porang tubers were sliced into 10 mm and 30 mm for the Fig. 6. Graphic of path loss difference as a function of frequency,
experiments. Range of frequency responses of 1.745 GHz up measurement result of Porang tuber with 10 mm in thickness.
to1.88 GHz was detected for the 10 mm tubers thickness,
revealing a reflected power of 0.15 W at 1.83 GHz (Fig. 6). The simulation results show at the distance of 6 cm and 8
Porang tuber with the thickness of 30 mm showed a relatively cm for the 20 mm tuber thickness, the reflected power was
high reflected power of 0.6 W at 1.84 GHz, within the same 0.073x10-9 W at frequency of 1.88 GHz. Meanwhile, at the
range of frequency. Different thicknesses did not influence the distance of 6 cm, for the thicknesses of 30 mm and of 10 mm
frequency responses, however it affected the power received by (distance of 4 cm 6 cm), the power of 0.15x10 -9 W and
the antenna. The thicker tubers resulted in the higher reflected 0.064x10-9 W were achieved at 1.88 GHz, respectively. Hence,
power. thicker tuber caused higher reflected power. The simulation
results also found out that for relatively thicker tubers the
optimum distance measurement between the horn and the tuber
was located between 6 cm up to 10 cm. The simulation was
conducted by modelling a horn reflector made of aluminum,
and transmitter and receiver antennas made of copper. Since
the dimension of the horn and the antennas did not represent
the actual equipments, the simulation did not reveal similar
results as the measurement. However, range of frequency
responses for the Porang tuber, and also the frequency where
the reflected power reached relatively high value was quite
similar, i.e. 1.83 GHz from the measurement and 1.88 GHz
from the simulation.

Fig. 4. Graphic of path loss difference as a function of frequency,
measurement result of Iles-iles tuber with 30 mm in thickness of a figure
caption.
IV. CONCLUSION
Detection of the frequency response of tropical tubers, i.e.
Porang, Iles-iles, and sweet potatoes-Cileumbu, has been
performed using the far-field method. Distance of 6 cm up to
10 cm is optimum between the horn reflector, which is worked
as a waveguide, and tubers as the measurement target, in order
to obtain relatively high received signal power.
Range of frequency responses of 1.745 GHz up to 1.88
GHz was obtained for the Porang tuber, with the reflected
power of 0.15 W measured at 1.83 GHz. The thickness of the
tubers did not affect the frequency responses, however, it
influenced the power. Sweet potatoes Cileumbu had range of
frequency of 2.055 GHz up to 2.17 GHz, and Iles-iles tuber
showed their responses at 2.185 GHz up to 2.25 GHz. The
simulation results for the Porang tuber confirmed the optimum
distance between the horn and the tuber, and the influence of
the Porang tuber thickness on the received power.
Different frequency responses of these tropical tubers allow
us to distinguish the tubers among others. This results give
benefit for further investigation on the sensor system for
Porang tuber under-ground and on the line-production to select
the appropriate tubers. Experiments to evaluate the quality of
Porang tubers and as a comparison to the far field method is
also performed and will be reported elsewhere.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We thank the Electromagnetic Wave Laboratory for the
antennas, R. Affandi for performing the measurement, and the
Porang Research Center (PRC) at Brawijaya University for the
financial support.
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