The equipment and instrumentation necessary to continuously measure the color, trash, and moisture levels of seed cotton and lint have been developed, tested in the laboratory, and field tested in commercial gin plants for two years. The equipment is described and illustrated herein. Computer software to analyze measurements made by the sensors and route cotton continuously and automatically through the machines selected based on an optimizing program, have also been developed and field tested in a small-scale gin. A complete computerized gin process control system including routing valves, sensors, sample collection devices, and computer software has been installed and tested in a full-scale ginning system. The next step is to install a fully operational system in a commercial gin plant and conduct additional field tests.