A Deep Learning Approach for Pixel-Level Material Classification via Hyperspectral Imaging

Recent advancements in computer vision, particularly in detection, segmentation, and classification, have significantly impacted various domains. However, these advancements are still strongly tied to RGB-based systems, which are insufficient for applications in industries such as waste sorting, pharmaceuticals, and defence, where material characterization beyond shape or visible colour is necessary. Hyperspectral (HS) imaging captures spatial and spectral information for each pixel and therefore offers a promising route for material-level classification. This study evaluates the potential of combining HS imaging with deep learning for plastic material classification. The work includes: (i) the design of an experimental setup with a HS line-scan camera, conveyor, and controlled illumination; (ii) the construction of an object-disjoint dataset of HDPE, PET, PP, and PS samples with semi-automated mask generation and Raman spectroscopy-based labelling; and (iii) the development of P1CH, a lightweight pixel-wise 1D convolutional hyperspectral classifier. On object-disjoint test images, P1CH achieved 97.44% all-pixel accuracy. A boundary sensitivity analysis, reported separately because semi-automated labels are uncertain at material/background interfaces, yielded 99.94% accuracy after excluding a pre-defined two-pixel border band. Additional ablation, baseline, and robustness analyses show that the proposed pixel-wise spectral approach is effective for small fragments, visually similar plastics, and overlapping materials, while black or very dark plastics remain challenging under the present camera and illumination configuration.