Twister Marvel FAQ

What is Marvel?

Marvel is an AI based cannabis grading and sorting device that automates the visual quality control activities of finished cannabis flower. Flower is graded for quality using deep learning AI algorithms and then sorted into various outputs.

How does Marvel Work?

Cannabis flower goes into a single input at one end, while graded and sorted flower comes out at the other end. During the process, flower gently waterfalls off the input conveyor where high speed cameras capture images of top, bottom and back of the flower. The images are then classified against cannabis specific criteria, like leaf, stem, crowsfeet, color and mold. Flowers then sort out using a puff of air into different output streams based on the user’s specific settings.

Who is Marvel For?

Marvel is designed for businesses in the cannabis industry that

• Care about the quality of their flower and their brand reputation,
• Want to increase their profits margins and reduce cost,
• Want to increase their flower yield in post-harvest stage.

Typical customers are cannabis producers, buyers, brokers, and service providers.

What are the primary benefits of Marvel?

The primary benefits of Marvel are:

• Marvel improves your brand reputation by preventing low quality flower from reaching the hands of your customers
• Marvel reduces post-harvest process costs by intelligently automating control of the trimming process.
• Marvel reduces high manual sorting labor costs by grading and sorting flower all day every day.
• Marvel increases the production yield and reduces trim ratio by intelligently automating control of the trimming process.
• Marvel validates bulk flower sales by producing an accurate analysis of every flower in the entire lot
• Marvel produces consistent results by eliminating the quality drifts throughout the day, and from person to person

What does Marvel grade for?

Marvel grades flower for cannabis specific criteria, including:

• Stem length – the length of the stem at the base of the flower
• Leaf length – the length of a given leaf on a flower
• Leaf number – the concentration of untrimmed leaves on a flower
• Crow’s feet – the petioles left behind from removing fan leaves
• Structural stems – stems that maintain flower structure for two or more flowers
• Flower size – the absolute size of the flower
• Flower color – the discoloration of the flower
• Infections – the visible presence of mold

Can Marvel be used to sort flowers by size?

Yes! And, it is true size of the flower, as Marvel look on flower from different angles and measures width and length of each flower. Therefore, regardless of round or cone shape of flowers, all will get accurate sizing! A task that current mechanical size sorters cannot deliver. As an example, the user can setup Marvel to pass everything except flowers that are under ½” in size.

Where do I use Marvel in my facility?

Marvel was designed to be used on dried flower, so it is best to use it at after drying in yor post-harvest process. However, it can be used at nearly any stage once the flower has been removed from the stalk. Some producers will run Marvel directly after dry trimming with their T-Zero, while others run it after curing and just prior to shipping to large contract buyers. And some customers on multiple points of post-harvest process.

Where to physically operate Marvel will depend on your facilities’ processes and level of automation.

What are the primary features of Marvel?

The primary features of Marvel are:

• It uses advanced AI algorithms to grade cannabis criteria
• It sorts graded cannabis according to specific criteria
• It has a dry flower capacity of up to 160lbs/hr for grading, and 120lbs/hr for grading and sorting
• It has accuracy of average above 80% and of up to 98%
• It produces comprehensive reports from grading analysis
• It has user-friendly operation
• Each criteria have adjustable sensitivity levels
• The criteria can be combined to create conditions based on your preferences, genetics and seasonal impacts.

What is the ROI on Marvel?

The ROI on Marvel typically ranges from 1-8 months, depending on the volume and the value of the flower produced.

How do I Operate Marvel?

Users interact with Marvel using its large, 19” high-definition HMI touchscreen. It’s been designed with user friendly software, and quick response times. Once Marvel has been fine-tuned for your specifications, turn Marvel on, select the configurations that you want to operate, and hit go. It’s that easy.

How large is Marvel?

Marvel is 40” wide X 80” long X 80” tall, it weighs 750 lbs, and rides on 4 casters.

Can Marvel grade for more than 1 criterion at a time?

Yes, Marvel can grade for as many criteria as you can imagine. For example, it can be set up to grade flower for long stems, long leaves, infections, and undersized buds all in a single run.

Can the criteria sensitivity be adjusted?

Yes, the operator can specify the sensitivity for each criterion being analyzed – this is referred to as a class within Marvel. Most criteria have classes from Class 0 to Class 5, and they progressively get more offensive as the class number increases. For example, a stem length of Class 0 means that the stem has been cut clean to the bottom of the bud, while a stem length of Class 4 would be quite long. To further illustrate, let’s say we have a batch of flower to run through Marvel and have it remove all the flower that had a stem longer than 15% of the overall flower size. To do this, we’d create a condition on Marvel’s interface that grades for the stem criteria, then we’d select the correct class for a stem that is 15% of the size of the flower and run the batch.

The ability to specify conditions for each criterion, combinations of criteria, and classes for each criteria allow users endless different grading schemes. This gives complete customization of your grading needs and specifications. Marvel could be programmed to pass large flowers with short stems, short leaves, and no crow’s feet, and fail flowers with long stems and long leaves regardless of the size, as well as anything that is moldy.

What criteria are most recommended to grade for?

Marvel is often setup to reject flowers that have long stems, long leaves, a high concentration of leaves, long crow’s feet, and infections, as these defects quickly identify the batch as lower value.

Does Marvel come pre-programmed with configurations.

Yes, Marvel will come pre-programmed with the most common configurations. However, Keirton’s AI engineers will work with you and your team to develop customized configurations to suit your needs, strains, and seasonal growing conditions. Already have a standard that you use? Great! Share it with us and we can program Marvel to mimic that same standard.

Where else is similar technology used?

Automated grading and sorting machines have been used for years in many other industries, including the agriculture and food sectors. In recent year, automated machines have been used extensively for sorting nuts, fruits and vegetables.

How is Marvel different than current optical sorters used for sorting nuts, berries, and other foods?

Marvel is unlike various optical sorters you may have seen for agricultural and food sorting. These devices typically sort on color alone, and often only look at one side of the object. They use simple logic statements based on the change in wavelength of light reflected off the object to determine whether it is good or bad. Marvel, on the other hand, uses AI algorithms to make layered complex intelligent decisions. Unlike optical sorters, Marvel determines not only the nature of the items (stem, crowfeet, leaf, etc) but the kind and the class of each item. The intelligence is trained through massive libraries of data and makes decisions based on a complex matrix of variables to classify cannabis flowers. This allows Marvel to be trained on virtually anything that is visible and falls through into its inspection zone. Optical sorters you find elsewhere simply don’t compare.

Can Marvel detect mold?

Yes! External mold is often easy to spot as the color and texture of mold is distinguishable from cannabis flower.

Can Marvel detect internal mold?

No, currently Marvel can only detect external, visible defects. However, there are often tell-tale signs that mold exists inside of the flower through discolorations around the stem that Marvel can identify.

What else can Marvel identify?

Marvel can be programmed to identify anything visible from the outside of the flower. Marvel can also detect light green, undeveloped flower; dead and burned yellow leaves; white flower from too much light; and even a lack of purple if that is what you’re expecting from your conditions.

Can Marvel be used to grade without sorting?

Yes, Marvel was designed as a dual-purpose machine – it can be used strictly to grade flower, as well as grade and then sort flower.

Why would Marvel be used to grade only?

The most common reason to use Marvel to only grade flower would be to support bulk flower sales. Marvel provides accurate and quantifiable data for every single flower in a batch, giving both the buyer and the seller a good understanding of the overall quality of the flower. This data helps define pricing of the batch and prevents a buyer from being oversold. The grading report provide comprehensive distribution of flowers at various state of each criterion. As an example, all the size and stem length data is collected and plotted so you can quickly see the percentage of the flower that is under ½”, over 1”, and how many flowers are long stem, medium stem or without stem, and many combinations in between. The same is true for each of the other criteria that has been selected to grade for. This data is collected into a report that can be attached to each batch.

What information is contained in Marvel’s grading reports?

Marvel’s grading report includes the following information for each run:

• The total number of flowers processed
• The distribution of flower size
• The distribution of levels for each characteristic (Leaf, Stem, Crowsfeet …).
• The percentage of the flowers that were sorted into various outputs

How long does it take for Marvel to process a single flower?

It takes less than 50 milliseconds from the time that a flower waterfalls over the edge of the conveyor until it has been graded and sorted.

What is the processing capacity of Marvel?

Marvel’s operating capacity is up to 120 lbs/hr for grading and sorting, increasing to over 160 lbs/hr for grading only.

What is the processing capacity of most quality control technicians that do a similar task?

A person can grade and sort upwards of 1 flower/sec for a prolonged period. This translates to 5 lbs/hr when looking at average flower sizes for most producers.

How much faster can Marvel grade and sort than quality control technicians?

Marvel can grade and sort up to 24 times faster than a typical person.

How accurate is Marvel at grading and sorting cannabis?

Marvel has proven on average across all the criteria the accuracy is above 80%. Additionally, the AI is constantly learning and improving; as customers use Marvel more, its accuracy increases.

How accurate are quality control technicians at grading and sorting cannabis?

The best quality control technicians can typically grade with 60-80% accuracy.

How many people are required to operate Marvel?

With a steady stream of flower feeding and accepting flower, Marvel would require a maximum of 3 people to operate – 1 person doing a double check on the passes, 1 person doing a double check on the separated flowers, and 1 person doing the setup and overall supervision of the process. Assuming a capacity of 100lbs/hr, Marvel would reduce the labor load from 20 people down to 3.

What can Marvel do that Quality Control Technicians can’t?

Marvel can inspect both sides of every flower, consistently, for as long as it’s in operation, while most people can only maintain a focused attention span for 15-30 minutes. Marvel can also inspect for several criteria and sort based on combinations of their states at the same time. Lastly, Marvel produces instant, quantifiable data on all flower that it encounters – a task that would add hours to the process with a team of people.

What can’t Marvel do that Quality Control Technicians can?

People sometimes identify obvious, egregious defects easier than AI can. This can give us the false impression that because it missed an obvious defect that AI isn’t as accurate as people. Their argument is that they would have identified the defect. Our recommended Marvel implementation process includes 1-2 quality control technicians monitoring the outputs to identify any possible defects that Marvel may have missed.

How is Marvel cleaned and how long does it take?

Marvel is best cleaned by first blowing any cannabis remains off all surfaces with compressed air, followed by wiping it down with clean towels and isopropyl alcohol. It typically takes a single person 10-20 minutes to conduct a deep, thorough clean on Marvel.

What guarantees can marvel make?

Marvel will grade and sort your flower with at least 80% accuracy.

What is Marvel’s Value Proposition?

Marvel improves the grading and sorting of cannabis with higher speed, accuracy, and consistency. This reduces cost, improves reputation, and delivers a more valuable product your customers will love. Marvel also can intelligently control the trimming process to maximize yield and minimise labour cost.

What is the pricing structure for Marvel?

Marvel’s AI is operated on a monthly subscription-based service contract, plus a purchase price for customers looking to buy the equipment, or an initiation fee for customers choosing to lease or lease-to-own the equipment. For example, a customer choosing to lease Marvel for 2 years will pay an initiation fee, plus a monthly service fee.

What if I purchase Marvel and I am not satisfied?

No sweat, Marvel subscriptions include a Performance Guarantee where Keirton’s Sales and Application Engineering teams will work with you to identify and specify the speed and accuracy of Marvel to suite your needs. If Marvel doesn’t perform as described, we’ll stop the monthly fee and take it back.

Where can I see Marvel in action?

We showcase Marvel at many tradeshows, conduct live virtual demos, live in-person demos at our HQ in Vancouver, British Columbia, and can even arrange to have Marvel onsite at qualified facilities.

Are there customer testimonials and/or references from reputable brands?

Yes, contact us for details on testimonials and references.

What is included in the service contract?

Included in service contract is the installation, commissioning, training, unlimited operation, 12/7 support, software and hardware updates, and regular servicing and onsite optimization sessions over the life of the contract.

What maintenance is required?

Mostly cleaning of the machine and 6-months check-ups. Machine doesn’t have any moving parts, so maintenance is minimal.

What is the lead time for a Marvel machine?

The lead time can vary anywhere from 1-4 months. Contact us for the latest information on Marvel lead times.

How long does it take to install and commission Marvel?

Installation and commissioning are often completed within a few days.

How long does it take to train staff on how to operate Marvel?

Onsite training is typically completed within 1-2 business days, with remote training sessions as needed. The time for training can vary depending on number of factors, including:

• Aptitude of the staff
• Complexity of the configurations being developed
• Uniqueness of the genetics
• Integration with other equipment.

What utilities does Marvel require?

Marvel requires the following utilities:

• Electrical service – 120V, 20A, 60HZ
• Compressed air – 7CFM @ 120psi, clean and dry
• Network/internet connection – 50 Mbps.

Will there be future versions of Marvel that will make the current version obsolete?

Yes and no. We are constantly conducting R&D and improving Marvel, so new versions will be available at some point in the future, but they will not make the current version obsolete.

What will be different from future versions?

We will be releasing announcements on the future changes. Stay tuned!

Can I upgrade to a future version once I commit to a contract?

Of course! All Marvel contracts will include options to upgrade the hardware and software.

How often is Marvel’s AI updated?

Marvel’s AI is constantly being updated through expanded criteria libraries, software improvements, HMI features, and remote access. Expect new versions to be available monthly.

Does Marvel log all images?

Yes! Marvel logs and stores all images for each recorded lot or batch in the cloud and can be accessed through Marvel Portal.

Does Marvel log all reports?

Yes! Marvel ties reports to each batch in the cloud and can be accessed through Marvel Portal.

Where is Marvel available?

Marvel is available worldwide directly from Keirton. Contact us to discuss your specific location and application.

How can I learn more about Marvel?

Contact us through our sales team or call us 1-888-254-3204.