Crop stand analyzer using reflective laser proximity sensors
AssigneeIowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorsLie Tang, Ji Li, Yin Bao, Jian Jin, Akash Dev Nakarmi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A crop stand analyzer includes a first plurality of reflective laser proximity sensors, the reflective laser proximity sensors arranged in a vertical row and perpendicularly to a ground surface to detect plant objects, a distance sensor, and a processor operatively connected to the first plurality of reflective laser proximity sensors and the distance sensor. The crop stand analyzer is configured to generate side-view profiles for the plant objects and then extract plant stand information via these profiles.
Claims17
A crop stand analyzer comprising:
- a first plurality of reflective laser proximity sensors, the reflective laser proximity sensors arranged in a vertical row and perpendicularly to a ground surface to detect plant objects;
- a distance sensor;
- a processor operatively connected to the first plurality of reflective laser proximity sensors and the distance sensor;
- wherein the crop stand analyzer is configured to generate side-view profiles for the plant objects and then extract plant stand information via these profiles.
A method for analyzing crop stands, comprising steps of:
- providing a system comprising (a) a first plurality of reflective laser proximity sensors, the reflective laser proximity sensors arranged in a vertical row and perpendicularly to a ground surface to detect plant objects, (b) a distance sensor, and (c) a processor operatively connected to the first plurality of reflective laser proximity sensors and the distance sensor;
- acquiring laser data from the first plurality of reflective laser proximity sensors;
- acquiring position data from the distance sensor;
- registering the position data with the laser data using the processor;
- computing plant data comprising at least one of plant population data, interplant spacing, and stem spacing from the position data and the laser data.
A crop stand analyzer comprising:
- a plurality of row units wherein each of the row units comprises (a) a first plurality of reflective laser proximity sensors, the reflective laser proximity sensors arranged in a vertical row and perpendicularly to a ground surface to detect plant objects, (b) a distance sensor;
- a processor operatively connected to each of the first plurality of reflective laser proximity sensors and each of the distance sensors;
- wherein the processor is configured to generate side-view profiles for the plant objects and then extract plant stand information via these profiles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.