Object identification and collection system and method

Abstract

An object identification and collection method is disclosed. The method includes employing an image-collection vehicle to capture first images of a target geographical area, identifying one or more objects in the first images, and guiding an object-collection system over the target geographical area toward the one or more identified objects. The method further includes determining object information for each of the identified objects and guiding the object-collection system based on the object information. The method may further include capturing second images of the ground relative to the object-collection system as the object-collection system is guided toward the one or more identified objects, identifying a target object in the second images, and instructing the object-collection system to pick up the target object.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present disclosure relates generally to the identification, tracking, mapping, and collection of objects from the ground or a field.BACKGROUNDDescription of the Related Art[0002]Rocks in agricultural fields present a problem to farmers across the country and throughout the world. Rocks can foul up and interfere with the operation of automated, expensive agricultural equipment, such as mechanized seeders and combines. Rocks also present safety hazards to farmers and their land, such as from sparks arising from contact with rotating metallic equipment. These issues can result in expensive repair, lost productivity, and the need for careful planning.[0003]While a number of implements—such as rakes, windrowers, and sieves, or combinations thereof—can be used to clear fields of rocks and other objects, they generally include manual operation and still have a high rate of failure (i.e., they often miss rocks).[0004]This failure rate often results in multiple passe...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]A method may be summarized as including employing an image-collection vehicle to capture a first plurality of images of a target geographical area; identifying one or more objects in the first plurality of images based on a first dataset of trained object parameters; determining object information for each of the one or more identified objects; guiding an object-collection system over the target geographical area toward the one or more identified objects based on the object information; capturing a second plurality of images of the ground relative to the object-collection system as the object-collection system is guided toward the one or more identified objects; identifying a target object in the second plurality of images based on a second dataset of trained object parameters; and instructing the object-collection system to pick up the target object. The method may include capturing avionic telemetry information of the image-collection vehicle when each of the first plurality of images is captured; and reducing distortion in the first plurality of images based on the avionic telemetry information prior to identifying the one or more objects in the first plurality of images. The object information for each of the one or more objects may include a location of a corresponding object within the target geographic area and an approximate size of the corresponding object.

Problems solved by technology

Rocks in agricultural fields present a problem to farmers across the country and throughout the world.

Rocks can foul up and interfere with the operation of automated, expensive agricultural equipment, such as mechanized seeders and combines.

Rocks also present safety hazards to farmers and their land, such as from sparks arising from contact with rotating metallic equipment.

These issues can result in expensive repair, lost productivity, and the need for careful planning.

While a number of implements—such as rakes, windrowers, and sieves, or combinations thereof—can be used to clear fields of rocks and other objects, they generally include manual operation and still have a high rate of failure (i.e., they often miss rocks).

This failure rate often results in multiple passes by these implements and they are often supplemented by human intervention to pick rocks that are left behind.

Such manual operation and human picking intervention involves expenditure on the labor required, and is often slow and unpleasant work.

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