SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING A PLANT STATUS

Abstract

The invention relates to a system and method for determining a status of plants. The system includes a light transmitter arranged for providing broad band illumination to one or more plants. The system includes a light receiver including a plurality of receiver channels, the receiver channels arranged for receiving light from said one or more plants in mutually different wavelength bands. The system includes a processing unit arranged for determining a status of said one or more plants on the basis of light received by the plurality of receiver channels. The transmitter may be arranged for transmitting bursts of modulated light.

Claims

1. A method of suppressing effects of at least one of dew and dust when determining a plant status, the method comprising: receiving light in mutually different wavelength bands from one or more plants by a light receiver including a plurality of receiver channels; receiving light at a first wavelength of a known reflection or absorption band of interest; receiving light at a second wavelength different from the first wavelength; receiving light at a third wavelength different from the first wavelength and second wavelength; and subtracting a signal received at the third wavelength from a signal received at the first wavelength to obtain a first value, subtracting the signal received at the third wavelength from a signal received at the second wavelength to obtain a second value, and then determining a ratio of the second value to the first value.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising adjusting the signal received at the third wavelength by a correction factor before (i) subtracting the signal received at the third wavelength from the signal received at the first wavelength to obtain the first value and (ii) subtracting the signal received at the third wavelength from the signal received at the second wavelength to obtain the second value.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the third wavelength is included in a reference absorption band.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the reference absorption band includes a wavelength about 670 nm.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first wavelength is included in a chlorophyll absorption band.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the chlorophyll absorption band includes a wavelength about 730 nm, and the second wavelength is about 760-800 nm.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first wavelength is included in a water absorption band.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the water absorption band includes a wavelength about 970 nm, and the second wavelength is about 900-930 nm.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining a status of the one or more plants based on light received by the plurality of receiver channels.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising controlling a variable rate applicator system based on the determined status of the one or more plants, wherein the variable rate applicator system is one of a fertilizer system, an irrigation system, a fertigation system, and a fertilizer spreader mounted on or pulled by a tractor

11. A system for suppressing effects of at least one of dew and dust when determining a plant status, the system comprising: a light receiver including a plurality of receiver channels, the receiver channels arranged for receiving light from one or more plants in mutually different wavelength bands, wherein the plurality of receiver channels including: a first receiver channel arranged for receiving light at a first wavelength of a known reflection or absorption band of interest; a second receiver channel arranged for receiving light at a second wavelength; and a third receiver channel arranged for receiving light at a third wavelength different from the first wavelength and the second wavelengths, wherein the system further comprises a processing unit configured to subtract a signal received by the third receiver channel from a signal received by the first receiver channel to obtain a first value, subtract the signal received by the third receiver channel from a signal received by the second receiver channel to obtain a second value, and then determine a ratio of the second value to the first value.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the processing unit adjusts the signal received by the third receiver channel by a correction factor before (i) subtracting the signal received by the third receiver channel from the signal received by the first receiver channel to obtain the first value and (ii) subtracting the signal received by the third receiver channel from the signal received by the second receiver channel to obtain the second value.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein the third receiver channel is a reference receiver channel tuned to a reference absorption band.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the reference absorption band includes a wavelength about 670 nm.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein the first receiver channel is tuned to an edge of a chlorophyll absorption band.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the chlorophyll absorption band includes a wavelength about 730 nm, and the second receiver channel is tuned to a wavelength about 760-800 nm.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein the first receiver channel is tuned to a water absorption band.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the water absorption band includes a wavelength about 970 nm, and the second receiver channel is tuned to a wavelength about 900-930 nm.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein each receiver channel includes a light detector, an AC-coupled current to voltage converter, a bandpass-AC-amplifier, a phase rectifier, an integrator, and a hold circuit.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the light receiver includes a multiplexer, and an analog to digital converter.

21. The system according to claim 19, wherein each receiver channel includes a light detector and dedicated optics.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein all receiver channels are mounted in a common receiver frame.

23. The system according to claim 11, wherein the processing unit is configured to determine a status of the one or more plants based on light received by the plurality of receiver channels.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein the processing unit is configured to control a variable rate applicator system based on the determined status of the one or more plants, and wherein the variable rate applicator system is one of a fertilizer system, an irrigation system, a fertigation system, and a fertilizer spreader mounted on or pulled by a tractor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0062] The invention will further be elucidated on the basis of exemplary embodiments which are represented in a drawing. The exemplary embodiments are given by way of non-limitative illustration. It is noted that the figures are only schematic representations of embodiments of the invention that are given by way of non-limiting example.

[0063] In the drawing:

[0064] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a system for determining a plant status;

[0065] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a system for determining a plant status;

[0066] FIG. 3 shows a schematic timing diagram;

[0067] FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a receiver;

[0068] FIGS. 5A and 5B show a schematic representations of a system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0069] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a system 1 for determining a status of plants 2. The system 1 includes a light transmitter 4 and a light receiver 6. The light transmitter 4 is arranged for providing broad band illumination. In this example, the light transmitter includes three transmitter channels 8. Each light transmitter channel 8 includes at least one light source 10. In this example each transmitter channel 8 includes more than one light source 10. Here the light sources are LED light sources. The number of light sources per channel has been chosen to obtain the desired broadband illumination. The number and the wavelength of light sources per channel can be chosen to obtain the desired broadband illumination. In this example, the light sources are arranged for transmitting light in wavelength bands around 660, 730 and 770 nm respectively. The transmitter 4 includes optics 12 for collimating, focusing or diverging light emitted by the light sources 10 towards plants under study.

[0070] The light receiver 6 includes a plurality of receiver channels 14. The receiver channels 14 are arranged for receiving light in mutually different wavelength bands. In this example, each receiver channel 14 includes a light sensor 16, here a photo diode. Each receiver channel 14 includes a bandpass filter 18. The bandpass filters 18 shape the sensitivity of the receiver channels. In this example, the bandpass filters are centered around 670, 730, 740 and 760 nm, respectively. The FWHM is about 10 nm. Each receiver channel 14 includes an optics 20 for focusing light reflected from the plants 2 onto the respective light sensor 16.

[0071] System 1 is depicted as an active sensing system with a light transmitter 4 and a light receiver 6. Passive sensing systems may be as well used within the scope of the current application, wherein a system 1 may comprise a light receiver 6 and the light receiver may be one of an optical sensing device like a camera of an electronic device (e.g. a smartphone) or an imaging sensor or the like, wherein the optical sensing device may be mounted on an agricultural machine or an aerial vehicle (UAV).

[0072] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of the system 1. In this example, the light transmitter 4 is shown as a unit having the plurality of light sources 10 close to the optical axis 102 of the light transmitter housing 104. All light sources 10 are placed on a common substrate. Hence the beams at different wavelength bands can show optimum overlap on the plants. In this example, all light transmitter channels 8 share a common optics 12. Optionally, the transmitter channels 8 are optically mixed through dedicated transmitter optics, such that all transmitter channels 8 illuminate along one single optical axis. The light receiver includes a light receiver housing 106. The light receiver housing 106 houses all light receiver channels 14. In this example, the light receiver housing 106 is highly thermally conductive, to minimize temperature difference between the receiver channels 14. The light receiver housing can e.g. be a single block of aluminum.

[0073] In the example of FIG. 1, the system 1 includes a light transmitter control unit 22 arranged for controlling the light transmitter channels 8. In this example the system 1 includes a light receiver control unit 24 arranged for controlling the light receiver channels 14. In this example the system 1 includes a processing unit 26.

[0074] Here the processing unit includes a signal generator 28 arranged for generating a carrier signal having a carrier frequency f.sub.c. The carrier signal is fed to both the light transmitter 4 and the light receiver 6.

[0075] The light transmitter control unit 22 includes a timing generator 30 for generating a timing signal. In this example, the timing signal is a periodic signal including a burst B having a burst repetition frequency (or burst repetition time T.sub.B) and a burst length L.sub.B. The light transmitter control unit 22 is arranged for switching the light sources 10 on and off between the bursts. The light sources 10 are switched on and off in a time sequence according to the burst repetition frequency and burst length, wherein during the burst the light sources are modulated by varying the light intensity in shape of the modulating frequency. In FIG. 3, this is represented as a sine wave with 0% to 100% of light intensity. Switching the light sources 10 on and off according to the carrier frequency can be done at a duty cycle of 50%, or at any desired duty cycle. The duty cycle can e.g. be adjusted according to need. For example, the burst frequency can be 10 Hz (10 bursts per second). A burst length can e.g. be 250-1000 μs. The carrier frequency can e.g. be 100 kHz.

[0076] During the burst, the light emitted by the light transmitter 4 is modulated by varying the light intensity in shape of the modulating frequency to allow to obtain a signal independent from the natural radiation conditions. The light receiver 6 successively receives a pure background signal due to natural light irradiation, and the sum signal of light transmitter and natural irradiation. By DC blocking (the AC-coupled current to voltage converter, AC-CV, converts only the AC part (or modulated part) of the receiving signal. Hence the background light with it's DC part is blocked by the AC coupled current to voltage converter), the component of the light received in response solely to the output of the light transmitter 4, can easily be determined. Hence, since the transmitter emits modulated light, the plants reflect modulated light with wavelength specific intensities according to their spectral response. The receiver channels receive all light (in their respective wavelength band) but signals that are not modulated with the same frequency and phase as the modulating frequency can not pass the electronics.

[0077] In this example, each receiver channel 14 has its own processing electronics 32. FIG. 4 shows a schematic example in which the processing electronics 32 are subdivided in units. In this example the light sensor 16 is a photo diode. The current generated by the light sensor 16 is converted into a voltage by the AC-coupled current-voltage converter 34. The resulting voltage is amplified by bandpass amplifier 36. In this example the bandwidth of the amplifier is 20 kHz. Preferably, the AC-current to voltage converter and the bandpass amplifier strip any DC component from the signal. It will be appreciated that the AC component of the signal corresponds to the difference between the summed ambient and background signal (during a pulse) and the background signal (between pulses). Hence, this suppresses ambient light. In this example, there is no measurement of the background signal. The background signal is stripped off by the electronics. The background signal is mainly defined by a DC component and the AC component is generated by the light transmitter. Therefore, background suppression comes with the DC blocking of the AC-CV together with the bandpass amplifier. Thus, the measured signal coming from the bandpass amplifier does not contain a background component. Nevertheless, to get information about the measurement electronics (e.g. thermal deviations or other) it can be useful to get measurement data from a time interval between the bursts. In this time interval the light is switched off (AC component is zero) and the measurement signal is only the dark signal response of the electronics. However, since in this case too the DC signal is stripped from the measured signal, the term “dark signal” does not imply that such signal includes a signal relating to “background illumination”.

[0078] Next, the AC signal is rectified by a phase rectifier 38 for obtaining the amplitude of the signal. It is noted that the phase rectifier can be connected to the signal generator 28, so that the received signal can be rectified in synchronization with the transmitted light pulses. Any AC signal components that remained after removing of the DC component, and that are not in phase with the modulation signal (thus possibly not caused by the modulated illumination) are also stripped at this point.

[0079] The rectified signal is fed to an integrator and hold circuit 40. The integrator integrates the signal over a predetermined period of time. This aids in reducing noise. The integration time can be matched to the length of the bursts. The integration time can e.g. be 250-1000 μs.

[0080] The light receiver control unit 22 includes an electronic switch or multiplexer 42. The hold circuits 40 holds the determined integrated values until the multiplexer 42 feeds the respective integrated signals to an analog-to-digital converter 44.

[0081] In this example, the system further includes an additional light sensor 16′ for determining intensity of the light sources 10. Hence, any deviation in light output, e.g. due to temperature, ageing, etc., can be compensated for. Also, the additional light sensor allows for monitoring the light sources 10 for malfunction. For this purpose the individual light sources 10 can for instance be turned on sequentially one after the other and the resulting signal is measured using the additional light sensor 16′. It will be appreciated that it is possible to include a dedicated additional light sensor 16′ for each light source 10 or for each light transmitter channel 8.

[0082] In this example, the processing unit 26 receives the digital values representative of the light received at the respective receiver channels. The processing unit 26 is arranged for determining a status of the plants 2 on the basis of the received values. The processing unit 26 can e.g. be arranged for determining a nutritional status of the plants 2 on the basis of the received values. The values determined by the processing unit, representative of the light intensity received by the respective light sensors 26 are indicated as R.sub.670, R.sub.730, R.sub.740, and R.sub.760 in this example, referring to the center wavelengths of the respective receiver channel bandpass filters. It is noted that the edge of the chlorophyll absorption band is situated at approximately 730 nm. Therefore, the value of R.sub.730 is representative of the amount of chlorophyll within the field of view of that receiver channel. Hence, the receiver channel having a center wavelength about 730 nm can be classified as chlorophyll receiver channel. Transmitting the light as the modulated bursts and the phased rectifying already cancels effects of ambient illumination. Hence, it makes no difference whether the measurement is performed by day or by night. By comparing the value at the chlorophyll absorption band, R.sub.730, with a value outside the chlorophyll absorption band, here R.sub.760, allows to correct for the amount of reflected light that does not contribute to the chlorophyll measurement, such as reflection on soil. The receiver channel having a center wavelength about 760 nm here qualifies as chlorophyll reference receiver channel. It will be appreciated that for the chlorophyll reference receiver channel any center wavelength outside the chlorophyll absorption band can be chosen, such as, but not limited to, 750, 755, 760, 765, 770, 775, 780, or 785 nm, for instance the 760 nm mentioned above. Hence, the processing unit 26 can e.g. determine the ratio R.sub.760/R.sub.730 as index representative of chlorophyll.

[0083] There is a relationship between the total amount of chlorophyll and the total amount of nitrogen within a crop canopy. Hence, crop nitrogen requirements can be determined based on measurement data collected from the crop canopy. Plants with increased levels of nitrogen typically have produced more chlorophyll and more biomass. Hence, plants that appear a darker green are perceived to be healthier than nitrogen deficient plants. Hence, it possible to remotely sense or measure canopy greenness and obtain an indication of chlorophyll amount and nitrogen uptake. When the determined absorption at the chlorophyll absorption band is high, the total amount of chlorophyll in the plants can be assumed to be high, and the nitrogen levels of the plants can be assumed to be high. Hence, the processing unit can determine a plant nutritional status. After proper calibration in dedicated field trials, nitrogen uptake can e.g. be calculated from S.sub.N=100*C.sub.c*(R.sub.760/R.sub.730−1), wherein C.sub.c can be a calibration function or calibration constant determined in calibration. It is also possible that the R.sub.760 and R.sub.730 are calibrated individually.

[0084] Usual optical readings on a field may comprise disturbances like dew, haze and dust. While dew and haze are natural phenomena which may take place due to atmospheric conditions on the plant surface or in the optical path between the plants and the system 1 affecting optical readings, dust present on plants or suspended in the atmosphere due to the movement of the tractor or agricultural machinery on general, has a similar effect on the readings due to the similar particle size. In order to suppress the effects of dew, haze and dust when determining a plant status, a further correction can be made, using the value determined by a reference receiver channel, here the receiver channel with the center wavelength about 670 nm. By subtracting the value of the light intensity received by the reference receiver channel from the value of the chlorophyll receiver channel and from the value of the chlorophyll reference receiver channel this further correction may be obtained. Hence, the processing unit 26 can e.g. determine the ratio (R.sub.760-R.sub.670)/(R.sub.730-R.sub.670) as corrected index representative of chlorophyll. Again nitrogen uptake can be calculated from S.sub.N′=100*C.sub.d*((R.sub.760-R.sub.670.)/(R.sub.730-R.sub.670)−1) after proper calibration. Herein Ca can be a calibration function or calibration constant determined in calibration. It is also possible that the R.sub.760, R.sub.670 and R.sub.730 are calibrated individually.

[0085] Instead of, or in addition to, determining chlorophyll, or nitrogen uptake, above ground, e.g. dry, biomass can be determined. Thereto, different wavelength bands may be used, e.g. based on a water absorption band such as at 970 nm. A water receiver channel can be defined having a center wavelength about 970 nm. A reference water receiver channel can be defined having a center wavelength about 900-930 nm, e.g. 900 nm. The biomass determination can be independent of chlorophyll. Dry mass can e.g. be calculated from S.sub.DM=100*C.sub.w*(R.sub.900/R.sub.970−1) or from S.sub.DM′=100*C.sub.w*(R.sub.900-R.sub.670)/(R.sub.970-R.sub.670)−1), wherein C.sub.w can be a calibration function or calibration constant determined in calibration. It is also possible that the R.sub.900, R.sub.670 and R.sub.970 are calibrated individually.

[0086] The method may further comprise adjusting the signal received at the third wavelength by a correction factor before subtracting the signal received at the third wavelength from the signal received at the first wavelength to obtain the first value and subtracting the signal received at the third wavelength from a signal received at the second wavelength to obtain the second value.

[0087] The correction factor may take values between 0 and 1, wherein the correction factor may be crop dependent and/or crop growth stage dependent. For example, due to plant characteristics on their leave surface or leave size, the correction factor may be conveniently adjusted. Preferably, the correction factor takes values between 0.5 and 1. Preferably, the correction factor takes values between 0.7 and 0.9.

[0088] The processing unit 26 is arranged for making the results of the measurements knowable to a user. Thereto, the processing unit 26 can include a communication unit 46. The communication unit 46 is arranged for transmitting the measurement results, e.g. the plant status, such as nitrogen uptake or biomass, to a user device 48. The communication can be wired or wireless. The user device 48 can include a control panel. The control panel can include a display and/or controls. The user device can be a tablet. The user device can be a smartphone.

[0089] The light transmitter control unit 22 in this example includes a temperature control unit 47. The temperature control unit 47 is arranged for controlling the temperature of the transmitter channels 10 to avoid, or at least reduce, wavelength and/or intensity drift. Here the transmitter channels are maintained at an elevated temperature above ambient temperature. The temperature can e.g. be maintained at about 50±1° C.

[0090] FIGS. 5A and 5B shows a schematic representation of a system 1. In this example, the system 1 is attached to a tractor 50. Here the system 1 is positioned at a cabin roof of the tractor 50. The light transmitter 4 is aimed at the ground at an angle α. In this example, the angle α is approximately 50°, however, other suitable angles can be selected. The light receiver 6 is also aimed at the ground, here at the same angle α. The light receiver 6 receives light reflected from the plants within the field of view F.sub.V. It is noted that in this example a second system 1′ is also attached to the tractor, to allow for simultaneous detection on both sides of the vehicle.

[0091] As explained above, the light transmitters 4 of the systems 1, 1′ transmit the light in bursts at the burst frequency. In this example, the systems 1, 1′ are synchronized. Here the synchronization is such that the light transmitters are operated out of phase, that is, the systems 1 and 1′ alternately transmit a burst. This can help in preventing power consumption peaks.

[0092] When the vehicle moves and thus passes plants, the burst frequency is preferably such that fields of view of the individual measurements overlap by at least half of the field of view.

[0093] In this example, the tractor 50 is further provided with a fertilizer distribution unit 52. The fertilizer distribution unit 52 is connected to a control unit 54. The control unit 54 receives application rates calculated from the plant status, such as e.g. the nitrogen uptake, from the processing unit 26. The control unit 54 controls dispensing of fertilizer on the basis of the received data. Since the data can be provided to the control unit 54 in real time, or with minimal delay, it is possible to control dispensing of the fertilizer on the basis of each individual measurement for the plants with the field of view during that measurement.

[0094] Herein, the invention is described with reference to specific examples of embodiments of the invention. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made therein, without departing from the essence of the invention. For the purpose of clarity and a concise description features are described herein as part of the same or separate embodiments, however, alternative embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described in these separate embodiments are also envisaged.

[0095] For example, in the example of FIG. 5 a fertilizer distribution unit is shown. Alternatively, or additionally, the system 1, 1′ can be used for providing data representative of a plant status to a control unit of a watering and/or irrigation system.

[0096] In the example of FIG. 5, the system 1, 1′ is positioned at a roof of the tractor. It will be clear that the system can also be positioned elsewhere, e.g. at a spray boom. It will also be clear that the system can be attached to a different moving structure than a tractor, for example to a mower, center pivot/linear irrigator, or the like.

[0097] However, other modifications, variations, and alternatives are also possible. The specifications, drawings and examples are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than in a restrictive sense.

[0098] For the purpose of clarity and a concise description features are described herein as part of the same or separate embodiments, however, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention may include embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described.

[0099] In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The word ‘comprising’ does not exclude the presence of other features or steps than those listed in a claim. Furthermore, the words ‘a’ and ‘an’ shall not be construed as limited to ‘only one’, but instead are used to mean ‘at least one’, and do not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to an advantage.