Vehicle based laser range finding in crops

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Engineering
• Remote Sensing Technology
• Optics and Photonics

Background:

• Laser rangefinders and scanners are vital for industrial and remote sensing applications.
• Accurate crop parameter measurement (volume, height, density) is crucial for optimizing agricultural production.
• Previous studies focused on low-cost laser rangefinders for short-range agricultural measurements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the measurement properties of a low-cost laser rangefinder under challenging agricultural conditions.
• To evaluate the sensor's accuracy and suitability for vehicle-based crop parameter measurement.
• To provide insights for selecting or developing laser rangefinder sensors for precision agriculture.

Main Methods:

• Laboratory tests under controlled conditions to evaluate sensor performance.
• Field tests in real agricultural settings to assess practical usability.
• Analysis of measurement accuracy considering factors like range and target size.

Main Results:

• Lab tests indicated reduced measurement accuracy with increasing range due to beam spread.
• Challenges arise from small target areas and beam interaction with crop edges.
• Successful field deployment demonstrated the sensor's potential for agricultural applications.

Conclusions:

• Low-cost laser rangefinders, despite accuracy limitations, show promise for agricultural applications.
• The study facilitates informed decisions in choosing or developing sensors for crop parameter monitoring.
• Vehicle-based laser rangefinder systems can contribute to optimizing agricultural production processes.