Systems and methods for using backscatter imaging in precision agriculture
AssigneeAmerican Science and Engineering, Inc.
InventorsAaron Couture, Basak Oztan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for determining a mass of a crop by using at least one X-ray scanner is provided. The method includes obtaining at least two scan images of the crop, where a first of the at least two images is obtained along a first plane relative to the crop and a second of the at least two images is obtained along a second plane relative to the crop, and where the first plane is angularly displaced relative to the second plane, registering the first image and the second image, correcting the registered first and second images, and determining the mass of the crop from the corrected first and second images.
Claims60
A method for estimating weight of crop, wherein the crop comprises at least one row of plants and wherein the at least one row of plants comprises at least one vine and/or branch bearing fruit, the method comprising:
- irradiating a predefined area of the crop with X-rays from at least two sides;
- obtaining scan images of the at least one row of plants;
- performing contrast enhancement and de-noising with respect to each of the collected scan images;
- performing a global registration of all the contrast enhanced, de-noised images;
- obtaining split images representing individual vines and/or branches by separating vines and/or branches from said images;
- performing a local registration of the obtained split images;
- performing a cluster segmentation function on each of the split images;
- processing the resultant segmented images using distance calibration;
- and,
- estimating a weight of the crop by using the distance calibrated images.
A method for determining a mass of a crop by using at least one X-ray scanner, the method comprising:
- obtaining at least two scan images of the crop, wherein a first of the at least two scan images is obtained along a first plane relative to the crop and a second of the at least two scan images is obtained along a second plane relative to the crop, and wherein the first plane is angularly displaced relative to the second plane;
- registering the first scan image and the second scan image;
- correcting the registered first and second scan images;
- and
- determining the mass of the crop from the corrected first and second scan images.
A system for determining a mass of a crop comprising:
- at least one X-ray scanner for obtaining at least two scan images of the crop, wherein a first of the at least two scan images is obtained along a first plane relative to the crop and a second of the at least two scan images is obtained along a second plane relative to the crop, and wherein the first plane is angularly displaced relative to the second plane;
- and
- a controller coupled with the X-ray scanner, wherein the controller is adapted to:
- register the first and second images;
- correct the registered first and second images;
- and
- determine the mass of the crop from the corrected first and second scan images.
A system for estimating a weight of crop, wherein the crop comprises at least one row of plants and wherein the at least one row of plants comprises vines and/or branches bearing fruit, the system comprising:
- at least one X-ray scanner for irradiating a predefined area of the crop with X-rays from at least two sides;
- and
- a controller coupled with the at least one X-ray scanner, wherein the controller is adapted to:
- obtain scan images of the at least one row of plants;
- perform contrast enhancement and de-noising with respect to each of the collected scan images;
- perform a global registration of the contrast enhanced, de-noised images;
- obtain split images by separating vines and/or branches from said images;
- perform a local registration of the obtained split images;
- perform a cluster segmentation function on a predefined group of the split images;
- process the segmented images using distance calibration;
- and
- estimate a weight of the crop by using the distance calibrated images.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.