A system for obtaining spatial measurements between objects such as crops in an agricultural field. The system includes a measurement device including a motorized reel containing a wound length of measuring line, and electronic encoder with shaft rotated in opposing directions by dispensing or retrieving measuring line. A pivotably movable spring-biased tension arm maintains tension in the line when being rewound. The tension arm is responsive to changes in line tension and configured to automatically start the motor to rewind the line onto the reel based on angular position of the arm. A gear train includes a translatable shuttle gear which selectively couples the reel to the motor based on movement of the tension arm. The encoder converts rotary motion of its shaft into linear field measurements. In one implementation, the tension arm comprises an inboard arm and outboard arm with translatable pulley coupled thereto by an articulated joint.

A method for monitoring and/or calibrating a device designed for three-dimensional X-ray optical inspection of seedlings in different growth phases may optically or X-ray optically measure natural seedlings in three dimensions at predetermined times during their growth phase. The method may create a control program for a device which is designed for the three-dimensional printing of artificial seedlings as reference samples which are replicas of the natural seedlings in each case using the recorded measured values. The method may also produce artificial seedlings with a plastic using the device in accordance with the created control program. The artificial seedlings thus produced may be measured three-dimensionally by X-ray optics and the measured values thus acquired may be recorded in a control chart or an already created control chart is adapted, with which control chart monitoring and/or calibration of the device designed for the three-dimensional X-ray optical inspection of seedlings is performed.

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.

A tree harvesting head for a tree harvesting machine, wherein the tree harvesting head comprises at least one cutting device, at least two feed wheels and a radar device. The radar device comprises at least one radar transmitter antenna arranged to transmit a signal to a tree trunk to be measured, at least two radar receiver antennas arranged to receive a radar signal reflected in at least a first and a second location in response to the transmitted radar signal, wherein the first and second locations are different locations. The radar device further comprises means for obtaining characteristics related to the tree trunk based on the signal(s) reflected at the first and second locations. The means for obtaining characteristics related to the tree trunk is arranged to determine a tree trunk signature of a tree trunk segment located at the first location, to identify the determined tree trunk signature when the tree trunk segment has travelled to the second location and to determine a length of the tree trunk based thereon.

A system for obtaining spatial measurements between objects such as crops in an agricultural field. The system includes a measurement device including a motorized reel containing a wound length of measuring line, and electronic encoder with shaft rotated in opposing directions by dispensing or retrieving measuring line. A pivotably movable spring-biased tension arm maintains tension in the line when being rewound. The tension arm is responsive to changes in line tension and configured to automatically start the motor to rewind the line onto the reel based on angular position of the arm. A gear train includes a translatable shuttle gear which selectively couples the reel to the motor based on movement of the tension arm. The encoder converts rotary motion of its shaft into linear field measurements. In one implementation, the tension arm comprises an inboard arm and outboard arm with translatable pulley coupled thereto by an articulated joint.

Described are various embodiments of a crop phenology characterisation method, and system using same. One embodiment relates to a method of monitoring a crop phenology, the method comprising acquiring a size measurement of a crop in a crop location over time, monitoring a first parameter calculated based at least in part on to a periodic recovery value of the size measurement, and a second parameter calculated at least in part based on a periodic growth value of the size measurement. In some embodiments, one or more of the first parameter and the second parameter are indicative of a crop characteristic. In some embodiments, an indication related to the crop characteristic may be provided in response to one or more of the first parameter and the second parameter.

Devices and methods for attaching objects to living trees. Various forms of the devices employ a cable that is sized to be wrapped around a circumference of a portion of the living tree and engaged by at least one friction generating member to retain the cable attached to the portion of the living tree without human intervention until another circumference of the portion of the living tree exceeds a length of the cable to enable the cable to automatically disengage the portion of the living tree without the human intervention.

Products and processes for measuring crop and pasture surface profile which may be used to measure the average surface profile of crop and pasture foliage around stationary measurement devices.

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.

Described herein is a magnetic dendrometer having a frame, a spring-tension mechanism, and a magnet for moving together with the spring-tension mechanism. A magnetic sensor is attached to the frame. The magnetic sensor senses the linear motion of the magnet. This linear motion translates to trackable fluctuations in magnetic field. The magnetic fluctuations are converted to electrical signals by the magnetic sensor. A spring is attached to a free-floating wishbone-style component. The free-floating wishbone-style component is coupled to a slider which has an adjustable, single-contact point with a target (e.g., a vine, a branch, etc.). The frame is a stationary frame that carries the magnetic sensor. The frame connected via the spring to the wishbone/slider combination cooperates with each other for providing linear motion to extend or contract the spring in length directions. The length variations of the dendrometer spring are converted to linear motion of the magnet and then into electronic signals.