Systems and methods for monitoring agricultural products
First Claim
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1. A plant analysis system, comprising:
- a) a data acquisition component comprising a 3D laser scanner, a camera, and a survey grade global positioning satellite (“
GPS”
) receiver,wherein said survey grade GPS receiver is configured to measure a location of said data acquisition component with a sub centimeter level of accuracy,wherein said 3D laser scanner is configured to measure the distance between said data acquisition component and a plant utilizing waveform light detection and ranging (“
LiDAR”
), and to assemble point cloud data, by creating a plurality of three dimensional vertices, wherein each vertex represents where said plant was located relative to said 3D laser scanner, and wherein said plurality of three dimensional vertices as a whole represents the external surface of an object on said plant,wherein said camera is configured to collect photographic data by taking an image of said plant,b) a transport component configured to transport said data acquisition component to collect data on said plant; and
c) a processor configured to;
geo-register the point cloud data and photographic data using said location of said data acquisition component, wherein said point cloud data is geo-registered by translating said relative three dimensional coordinates of each vertex measured by said 3D laser scanner into GPS coordinates such that each three dimensional vertex of said assembled point cloud data is associated with a GPS coordinate and wherein said photographic data is geo-registered by associating each three dimensional vertex of said assembled point cloud data with a pixel of said photographic data, and wherein each three dimensional vertex of said assembled point cloud data is associated with said GPS coordinates and said pixel of said photographic data using a relational database,determine plant color based on said photographic data,generate classification data comprising plant stem diameter, plant height, plant volume, and plant leaf density, using said GPS coordinates of said assembled point cloud data and said plant color,determine quality of said plant based on said plant stem diameter, said plant height, said plant volume, said plant leaf density, and together with said plant color, andspray said plant, using a fruit tree sprayer, based on said quality of said plant, wherein said fruit tree sprayer controls when to spray, how long to spray, and what chemicals to spray on said plant based on said quality of said plant.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to systems and methods for monitoring agricultural products. In particular, the present invention relates to monitoring fruit production, plant growth, and plant vitality.
21 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A plant analysis system, comprising:
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a) a data acquisition component comprising a 3D laser scanner, a camera, and a survey grade global positioning satellite (“
GPS”
) receiver,wherein said survey grade GPS receiver is configured to measure a location of said data acquisition component with a sub centimeter level of accuracy, wherein said 3D laser scanner is configured to measure the distance between said data acquisition component and a plant utilizing waveform light detection and ranging (“
LiDAR”
), and to assemble point cloud data, by creating a plurality of three dimensional vertices, wherein each vertex represents where said plant was located relative to said 3D laser scanner, and wherein said plurality of three dimensional vertices as a whole represents the external surface of an object on said plant,wherein said camera is configured to collect photographic data by taking an image of said plant, b) a transport component configured to transport said data acquisition component to collect data on said plant; and c) a processor configured to; geo-register the point cloud data and photographic data using said location of said data acquisition component, wherein said point cloud data is geo-registered by translating said relative three dimensional coordinates of each vertex measured by said 3D laser scanner into GPS coordinates such that each three dimensional vertex of said assembled point cloud data is associated with a GPS coordinate and wherein said photographic data is geo-registered by associating each three dimensional vertex of said assembled point cloud data with a pixel of said photographic data, and wherein each three dimensional vertex of said assembled point cloud data is associated with said GPS coordinates and said pixel of said photographic data using a relational database, determine plant color based on said photographic data, generate classification data comprising plant stem diameter, plant height, plant volume, and plant leaf density, using said GPS coordinates of said assembled point cloud data and said plant color, determine quality of said plant based on said plant stem diameter, said plant height, said plant volume, said plant leaf density, and together with said plant color, and spray said plant, using a fruit tree sprayer, based on said quality of said plant, wherein said fruit tree sprayer controls when to spray, how long to spray, and what chemicals to spray on said plant based on said quality of said plant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method, comprising:
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a) transporting a data acquisition component, wherein said data acquisition component comprises a 3D laser scanner, a camera, and a survey grade global positioning satellite (“
GPS”
) receiver,b) collecting waveform light detection and ranging (“
LiDAR”
) data on a plant using said 3D laser scanner while said data acquisition component is being transported by said transport component wherein said 3D laser scanner is configured to measure the distance between said data acquisition component and said plant and assemble point cloud data by creating a plurality of three dimensional vertices, wherein each vertex represents where said plant was located relative to said 3D laser scanner, and wherein said plurality of three dimensional vertices as a whole represents the external surface of an object on said plant;c) collecting photographic data by taking an image of said plant using said camera; d) measuring a location of said data acquisition component using said survey grade GPS receiver, wherein said survey grade GPS receiver is configured to measure location with a sub centimeter level of accuracy; e) geo-registering said point cloud data and photographic data, wherein said point cloud data is geo-registered by translating said relative three dimensional coordinates of each vertex measured by said 3D laser scanner into GPS coordinates such that each three dimensional vertex of said assembled point cloud data is associated with a GPS coordinate and wherein said photographic data is geo-registered by associating each three dimensional vertex of said assembled point cloud data with a pixel of said photographic data, wherein each three dimensional vertex of said assembled point cloud data is associated with said GPS coordinates and said pixel of said photographic data using a relational database; f) determining plant color based on said photographic data; g) determining classification data comprising plant stem diameter, plant height, plant volume, and plant leaf density using said GPS coordinates of said assembled point cloud data; h) determining quality of said plant analyzing based on said plant stem diameter, said plant height, said plant volume, said plant leaf density, and together with said plant color, and i) spraying said plant, using a fruit tree sprayer, based on said quality of said plant, wherein said fruit tree sprayer controls when to spray, how long to spray, and what chemicals to spray on said plant based on said quality of said plant. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification