Method for monitoring nitrogen status using a multi-spectral imaging system
First Claim
1. An imaging system usable with a ground based vehicle for analyzing an image in real time of vegetation from an area having vegetation and a non-vegetation background, the imaging system comprising:
- a light receiving unit mounted on the ground-based vehicle for receiving light reflected from the vegetation and non-vegetation background at a plurality of wavelength ranges;
an ambient light sensor mounted on the ground-based vehicle to quantify changes in ambient light intensity;
a multi-spectral sensor mounted on the ground-based vehicle and coupled to the light receiving unit and the ambient light sensor to produce an image of the vegetation and non-vegetation based on the light reflected at the plurality of wavelength ranges;
an image processor mounted on the ground-based vehicle and coupled to the multi-spectral sensor to produce a vegetation image by separating the non-vegetation portion of the image from the vegetation portion as a function of light reflected at a first wavelength and corrected for changes in ambient light intensity;
a material application device configured to apply a fertilizer and coupled for movement with the vehicle;
a means for analyzing the vegetation image to determine a nitrogen status of the crop-based on light reflected from the crop corrected for changes in ambient light intensity at a wavelength range in the green spectrum before the material application device has moved past the area; and
a controller coupled to the material application device and the means for analyzing, wherein the controller is configured to determine corrective fertilizer treatments for the area based on the determined nitrogen status of the crop and to control the material application device to apply the corrective fertilizer treatments to the area.
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Abstract
A multi-spectral imaging system and method for producing an image is disclosed. More specifically, the imaging system produces an image of vegetation for analysis of crop characteristics, such as nitrogen levels, from an area having vegetation and a non-vegetation background. A light sensing unit detects light reflected at multiple wavelengths. The image is segmented into images at different wavelengths such as at the red, green and near infrared wavelengths. The images are combined into a multi-spectral image and segmented into a vegetation image by eliminating all non-vegetation images by using the images at two wavelengths. The vegetation image is analyzed for nitrogen levels by calculating reflectance values at the green wavelength. The images may be stored for further analysis of crop characteristics.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An imaging system usable with a ground based vehicle for analyzing an image in real time of vegetation from an area having vegetation and a non-vegetation background, the imaging system comprising:
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a light receiving unit mounted on the ground-based vehicle for receiving light reflected from the vegetation and non-vegetation background at a plurality of wavelength ranges; an ambient light sensor mounted on the ground-based vehicle to quantify changes in ambient light intensity; a multi-spectral sensor mounted on the ground-based vehicle and coupled to the light receiving unit and the ambient light sensor to produce an image of the vegetation and non-vegetation based on the light reflected at the plurality of wavelength ranges; an image processor mounted on the ground-based vehicle and coupled to the multi-spectral sensor to produce a vegetation image by separating the non-vegetation portion of the image from the vegetation portion as a function of light reflected at a first wavelength and corrected for changes in ambient light intensity; a material application device configured to apply a fertilizer and coupled for movement with the vehicle; a means for analyzing the vegetation image to determine a nitrogen status of the crop-based on light reflected from the crop corrected for changes in ambient light intensity at a wavelength range in the green spectrum before the material application device has moved past the area; and a controller coupled to the material application device and the means for analyzing, wherein the controller is configured to determine corrective fertilizer treatments for the area based on the determined nitrogen status of the crop and to control the material application device to apply the corrective fertilizer treatments to the area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 24)
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7. An image system for analyzing an image of vegetation from an area having vegetation and a non-vegetation background, the imaging system comprising:
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a light receiving unit for receiving light reflected from the vegetation and non-vegetation background at a plurality of wavelength ranges; an ambient light sensor to quantify ambient light intensity in the area; a multi-spectral sensor coupled to the light receiving unit and the ambient light sensor to produce an image of the vegetation and non-vegetation based on the light reflected at the plurality of wavelength ranges; an image processor coupled to the multi-spectral sensor to produce a vegetation image by separating the non-vegetation portion of the image from the vegetation portion as a function of light reflected at a first wavelength and corrected for changes in ambient light intensity; and a means for analyzing the vegetation image in real-time to determine crop characteristics, wherein the means for analyzing the vegetation image determines a nitrogen status of the vegetation based on light reflected from the vegetation at a third wavelength range in the green spectrum, the nitrogen status being based upon only green parts of the vegetation exposed to light in the vegetation image. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A method usable on a ground-based vehicle coupled to a material application device for determining crop nitrogen status in real time for an area with vegetation and non-vegetation, the method comprising the steps of:
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sensing light reflected from the area at a plurality of wavelength ranges, the reflected light being sensed using a light receiving unit mounted on the vehicle; sensing ambient light intensity in the area at a plurality of wavelength ranges, the ambient light being sensed using an ambient light sensor mounted on a vehicle; forming an image based on the sensed light at the plurality of wavelength ranges, the image being formed using a multi-spectral sensor mounted on the vehicle; correcting the sensed light from the light receiving unit for changes in the ambient light intensity to maintain the sensed light in a dynamic range; separating a vegetation image from the image by analyzing light reflected at a first wavelength range, the image being separated using an image processor mounted on the vehicle; and calculating crop nitrogen status in the vegetation image, the crop nitrogen status being calculated before the application device has moved past the area. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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12. A method for determining crop nitrogen status in an area with vegetation and non-vegetation, the method comprising the steps of
sensing light reflected from the area at a plurality of wavelength ranges; -
sensing ambient light intensity changes in the area at a plurality of wavelength ranges; forming an image based on the sensed light and connected for ambient light intensity changes at the plurality of wavelength ranges; separating a vegetation image from the image by analyzing light reflected at a first wavelength range; calculating crop nitrogen status in real-time for the vegetation image; and determining the light reflected by the vegetation image at a third wavelength range; and
wherein the step of calculating crop nitrogen status includes determining the a nitrogen status of the vegetation as a function of the light reflected by the vegetation at a third wavelength range, wherein the nitrogen status being based upon only green parts of plants exposed to light in the vegetation image. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification