SENSOR BASED OBSERVATION OF ANTHROPODS

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to the sensor based observation of arthropods in a region where plants grow. The subject matter of the present disclosure is a device, system, method and computer program product for the sensor based observation of arthropods, by means of a camera.

Claims

1. A device comprising a collecting region, an imaging unit, a transmitter unit, a control unit and at least one sensor, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect a physical property in its environment that correlates with a probability of presence of an arthropod in the collecting region, and convert the property detected to a signal, wherein the control unit is configured to trigger the imaging unit to generate images of the collecting region, and trigger the transmitter unit to send the images and/or information regarding the images via a network to a computer system, wherein the control unit is configured to fix times at which and/or frequency in time in which the images are generated and/or at/in which the images and/or information regarding the images are sent to the computer system via the network, on the basis of the signal from the sensor.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the signal indicates occurrence of an event and the control unit is configured to trigger generation of one or more images of the collecting region on occurrence of the event.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the event is an exceedance of a predefined threshold of a physical property or the undershooting of a predefined threshold of a physical property.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is a brightness sensor.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is a temperature sensor.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is a moisture sensor.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is an air pressure sensor.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is a wind sensor.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is a sensor for detection of chemical substances in the air.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is a microphone.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is part of a light barrier, breaking of which indicates presence of an arthropod in the collecting region or breaking of which indicates entrance and/or exit of an arthropod into/out of the device via an opening in the device.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is a camera, wherein the camera comprises an image sensor, wherein at least part of the collecting region is imaged on the image sensor, wherein the camera is configured to read the image sensor and to analyze the image read and to recognize a beneficial and/or a pest and/or a specific beneficial and/or a specific pest.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is a movement sensor configured to indicate a movement of a body within the collecting region and/or within an entry region to the device.

14. The device of claim 1, comprising two or more of the sensors.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to increase the frequency of the generation of images of the collecting region in time if there is an increased probability that a beneficial and/or a pest and/or a specific beneficial and/or a specific pest is present in the collecting region.

16. A system comprising the device of claim 1 and a computer system, wherein the device and the computer system are connected to one another via a network.

17. A method comprising detecting a physical property in an environment of a collecting region, wherein the physical property correlates with a probability of presence of an arthropod in the collecting region, generating images of the collecting region and sending the images and/or information regarding the images via a network to a computer system, wherein times and/or frequency in time for generation of images of the collecting region and/or for sending the images and/or the information regarding the images via a network to a computer system is/are fixed depending on the probability that one or more arthropods are present in the collecting region.

18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions which when executed by an electronic device, cause the device to: receive a signal, wherein the signal includes information as to a probability that an arthropod is present in a collecting region, and control generation of images of the collecting region and sending the images and/or of information regarding the images via a network to a computer system, wherein times and/or frequency in time for the generation of the images of the collecting region and/or for the sending of the images and/or the information regarding the images via a network to a computer system is/are fixed depending on the probability that arthropods are present in the collecting region.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0155] The invention is described in detail hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to figures and examples, without any intention to restrict the invention to the features and combinations of features specified in the figures and examples.

[0156] The figures show:

[0157] FIG. 1 shows a schematic of a vessel that provides a collecting region for pests and/or beneficials;

[0158] FIG. 2 shows a vessel over which a cage has been mounted;

[0159] FIG. 3 shows a schematic of a tablet that provides a collecting region;

[0160] FIG. 4 shows a schematic of one embodiment of device (A);

[0161] FIG. 5 shows a schematic of a further embodiment of device (A);

[0162] FIG. 6 shows schematically one embodiment of a system; and

[0163] FIG. 7 shows schematically a further embodiment of a system.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIEMENTS

[0164] FIG. 1 shows a schematic of a vessel (10) that provides a collecting region (1) for pests and/or beneficials.

[0165] FIG. 1(a) shows the vessel (10) in a top view. FIG. 1(b) shows the vessel (10) in a side view from the direction of point A (see FIG. 1(a)). FIG. 1(c) shows the vessel (10) from the side in cross section along the dotted line A-B (see FIG. 1(a)).

[0166] The vessel (10) has a cylindrical shape with a round cross section. The cylinder is closed at the bottom by a base (11); it is open at the top. The base (11) and two concentric side walls (12a, 12b) that extend perpendicularly to the base (11) form a space. The collecting region (1) is viewed from the top. A circular recess (30) delimited by the side wall (12b) is introduced into the middle of the vessel (10). The recess narrows in the upward direction, forming a ring (35) that can serve as contact surface for a holder.

[0167] A semicircular recess is introduced into the side wall (12a) of the vessel (10) at one point, at which a channel (20) points outward. Rain water that gets into the vessel (10) can flow away via this channel.

[0168] FIG. 2 shows the vessel (10) illustrated in FIG. 1(b), over which a cage (50) has been mounted. The dimensions of the grid spacing of the cage (50) here are such that no leaves get into the vessel. An imaging unit (2) is mounted at the top of the grid (50). The imaging unit (2) is within the cage. Two lighting units (70a, 70b) ensure defined illumination of the collecting region. A sensor (40) measures a physical property that correlates with the probability that a (specific) arthropod will be present in the collecting region.

[0169] FIG. 3 shows a schematic of a tablet that provides a collecting region (1). FIG. 3(a) shows the tablet in a side view. FIG. 3(b) shows the tablet in top view. FIG. 3(c) shows the card in a further side view. On the card are mounted holding bars (7), at the end of which is secured an imaging unit (2). A sensor (40) present in the collecting region (1) measures a physical property that correlates with the probability that a (specific) arthropod will be present in the collecting region.

[0170] FIG. 4 shows a schematic of one embodiment of the device (A) of the invention. The device (A) comprises a collecting region (1), an imaging unit (2), a sensor (40), a transmitter unit (3) and a control unit (4).

[0171] FIG. 5 shows a schematic of a further embodiment of the device (A) of the invention. The device (A) comprises a collecting region (1), an imaging unit (2), a sensor (40), a transmitter unit (3), a control unit (4) and an evaluation unit (5).

[0172] FIG. 6 shows schematically one embodiment of the system according to the invention. The system comprises a multitude of devices (A1, A2) of the invention that generate images. Information relating to the images is transmitted via a radio network to a base station (B). The information is transmitted from there via a network to a computer system (C).

[0173] FIG. 7 shows schematically a further embodiment of the system according to the invention. The system comprises a multitude of devices (A1, A2) of the invention that generate images. Information relating to the images is transmitted via a radio network to a base station (B). The information is transmitted from there via a network (represented by the cloud) to a computer system (C1). Information relating to the images can be called up from the computer system (C1) by means of the computer system (C2).