The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to a physical stalk sensing system comprising at least one resilient member. Sensors having the resilient member or members are able to estimate the size of the stalks of row crops as they pass through a field, such as a corn field. The sensors can be mounted on a corn head and the results can be analyzed and visualized.

An automated log scaling system and associated methods are disclosed. In the system and methods, one or more imagers may capture depictions of respective first ends and/or second ends of a plurality of logs, and use the captured depictions to scale the plurality of logs. A diameter value for each end of the log may be determined using the captured depictions. Relative location values for each captured end may be determined and used to form a length of each log. Information captured in the images is used to identify the type of tree or species of tree for each log. At least one of the diameter values may be multiplied by the determined log length, and the resulting product value may be compared to values in a log scaling chart to determine a value for the log. The value of multiple logs may be used to form a load of logs for distribution.

The invention provides a device (10) for acquiring images of a plant, which device comprises: i) a first structure (60) defining a cavity (33) for receiving a portion to be imaged of the plant, the cavity presenting a longitudinal axis (13) and an opening (65) at one of its ends, the cavity being defined by at least one transparent wall forming a window (12) for observing the portion to be imaged; ii) a second structure (61) extending around the window (12) and mounted to move in translation along the longitudinal axis (13) relative to the first structure, and comprising: hollow reflective optics (11, 19) extending around the window and including a reflecting surface (19) directed towards the longitudinal axis; and a plurality of image sensors (18) regularly distributed around the window (12), the field of view (77) of each sensor including at least a portion of the reflective optics so as to capture images of the portion of the plant that is surrounded by the window, which images are reflected by the reflective optics; and. iii) an actuator (64) for driving the second structure to move relative to the first structure along the longitudinal axis.

A smart lawn sensor is provided. The smart lawn sensor provides a grass height sensor adapted to determine the elevation of adjacent grass. The smart lawn sensor provides control circuitry operatively associated with the grass height sensor. The control circuitry may be programmed to set thresholds for the determined grass height so that the control circuitry sends notifications to one or more remote computing devices if the set thresholds are met or exceeded.

In a method and device for measuring a height of an agricultural product above ground using a mobile communications device, the method includes positioning the communications device above the agricultural product and determining a distance between the communications device and the agricultural product using a built-in sensor of the communications device. The height of the agricultural product is determined on the basis of the determined distance.

An automated log scaling system and associated methods are disclosed. In the system and methods, one or more imagers may capture depictions of respective first ends and/or second ends of a plurality of logs, and use the captured depictions to scale the plurality of logs. A diameter value for each end of the log may be determined using the captured depictions. Relative location values for each captured end may be determined and used to form a length of each log. Information captured in the images is used to identify the type of tree or species of tree for each log. At least one of the diameter values may be multiplied by the determined log length, and the resulting product value may be compared to values in a log scaling chart to determine a value for the log. The value of multiple logs may be used to form a load of logs for distribution.

An automated log scaling system and associated methods are disclosed. In the system and methods, one or more imagers may capture depictions of respective first ends and/or second ends of a plurality of logs, and use the captured depictions to scale the plurality of logs. A diameter value for each end of the log may be determined using the captured depictions. Relative location values for each captured end may be determined and used to form a length of each log. Information captured in the images is used to identify the type of tree or species of tree for each log. At least one of the diameter values may be multiplied by the determined log length, and the resulting product value may be compared to values in a log scaling chart to determine a value for the log. The value of multiple logs may be used to form a load of logs for distribution.

The invention provides a device (10) for acquiring images of a plant, which device comprises:

i) a first structure (60) defining a cavity (33) for receiving a portion to be imaged of the plant, the cavity presenting a longitudinal axis (13) and an opening (65) at one of its ends, the cavity being defined by at least one transparent wall forming a window (12) for observing the portion to be imaged;

ii) a second structure (61) extending around the window (12) and mounted to move in translation along the longitudinal axis (13) relative to the first structure, and comprising: hollow reflective optics (11, 19) extending around the window and including a reflecting surface (19) directed towards the longitudinal axis; and a plurality of image sensors (18) regularly distributed around the window (12), the field of view (77) of each sensor including at least a portion of the reflective optics so as to capture images of the portion of the plant that is surrounded by the window, which images are reflected by the reflective optics; and. iii) an actuator (64) for driving the second structure to move relative to the first structure along the longitudinal axis.

A smart lawn sensor is provided. The smart lawn sensor provides a grass height sensor adapted to determine the elevation of adjacent grass. The smart lawn sensor provides control circuitry operatively associated with the grass height sensor. The control circuitry may be programmed to set thresholds for the determined grass height so that the control circuitry sends notifications to one or more remote computing devices if the set thresholds are met or exceeded.

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. According to embodiments of the invention, a plant analysis system is configured determine a spectral signature of a plant based on spectral data, and plant color based on photographic data. The spectral signatures and plant color are associated with assembled point cloud data. Morphological data of the plant can be generated based on the assembled point cloud data. A record of the plant can be created that associates the plant with the spectral signature, plant color, spectral data, assembled point cloud data, and morphological data, and stored in a library.