Crop height measuring instrument

Abstract

To provide a height measuring instrument for crop that can measure heights of crops from ground parts even in the presence of a leaf blocking a wave emitted to between a ground surface and the leaf tip and a water surface reflecting the emitted wave.SOLUTION: A height measuring instrument 1 for crop which measure a ground part height of a crop has a non-contact distance meter 4 and a reflection plate 5 arranged that visible laser light is emitted in the opposite direction from the direction of a measurement surface 3a, and neither a leaf blocking the visible laser light nor a wafer surface reflecting the visible laser light is left in the route of the visible laser light so as to measure the height even in spite of undergrowth or spread water. Further, the non-contact distance meter 4 is provided with a recording part 43 which records measurement results to eliminate the need to enter the measurement results, so that the user can measure the height alone.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a crop height measuring device that measures the height of above-ground parts of crops, such as plant height and plant height, and that employs a non-contact distance measurement technology that uses the reflection of waves emitted in the air, and is capable of measuring the height of above-ground parts of crops even if there are leaves that block the emitted waves or water surfaces that reflect the emitted waves between the surface of the land (hereinafter referred to as the ground) and the leaf tips. [Background technology]

[0002] A ruler made of a long, thin board made of bamboo or plastic with a scale (hereafter referred to as a bamboo ruler) is actually used to measure the height of crops. For example, when measuring the height of rice plants, the bamboo ruler is held upright on the ground in one hand, and with the other hand, the bamboo ruler and the rice stalk are lightly grasped together, the rice stalk is squeezed by the leaf tips to make the drooping leaves stand upright, the highest leaf is found from the ground, and the scale mark at the height of the leaf tip is read to measure the height of the plant.

[0003] Another proposed crop height measuring device is a plant height measuring device that employs a non-contact distance measurement technique using the reflection of waves emitted in the air (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This plant height measuring device is equipped with a reflecting part that reflects waves to a known height above the water surface, between a non-contact distance meter and a base placed on the ground (referred to as a base in Patent Document 1), and is capable of calculating the rice plant height by measuring the distance from the non-contact distance meter to the reflecting part and adding the known height to this measurement value.

[0004] Although it is not a crop height measuring device, a height measuring device has been proposed that emits a downward vibration from a non-contact distance meter (see, for example, Patent Document 2). In this height measuring device, the non-contact distance meter is fixed at a known height, and the distance traveled by a support plate (referred to as a foot platform in Patent Document 2) is measured as it is slowly lowered until it lightly touches the top of the head, and height can be calculated by subtracting the distance traveled by the support plate from the known height. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-151301 A (paragraph 0008, Figure 5) [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2019-517660 (paragraph 0016, Figure 5) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The bamboo rulers actually used in the past are prone to errors and misreadings because they rely on reading the scale. This is especially true in fields where crops are grown, where the stalks are crowded together and the ground is uneven, making it difficult to read the scale from the front, which can easily lead to errors due to parallax.

[0007] Furthermore, the bamboo rulers actually used as mentioned above are long, thin plates, so the tip of the ruler can get stuck in the soil, making it difficult to measure accurately.

[0008] Furthermore, with the bamboo ruler actually used, both hands are occupied because one hand holds the ruler and the other holds both the ruler and the rice stalk. For this reason, when using the bamboo ruler actually used, measurements are often taken in pairs, with one person recording the height in a field notebook.

[0009] The plant height measurement device disclosed in Patent Document 1 measures the distance from a non-contact rangefinder to a reflector located above the water surface, but because the non-contact rangefinder emits waves downward, leaves at the bottom can easily get in the path of the waves and block the emitted waves. As a result, the plant height measurement device disclosed in Patent Document 1 may not be able to measure the height of the above-ground parts of crops if the spacing between crop stalks is narrow or if there is thick undergrowth.

[0010] Furthermore, the grass height measuring device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is larger than a handheld bamboo ruler because the base placed on the ground supports the pole so that it can stand on its own. In particular, the grass height measuring device disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a wide base, making it difficult to bring into fields where plants are crowded together, and if you try to bring it in by force, it will push down surrounding plants.

[0011] In the height measurement device according to Patent Document 2, the non-contact distance meter is fixed to a wall indoors, and therefore cannot be installed outdoors where there is no wall to fix it to.

[0012] Therefore, the object of this invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a crop height measuring instrument that can measure the height of the above-ground part of a crop even if there are leaves that block the emitted waves between the ground and the leaf tips or a water surface that reflects the emitted waves. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] To solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention of claim 1 provides a crop height measuring device for measuring the height of above-ground parts of crops, such as plant height and plant height, which is composed of a support pole, a backing plate with a measuring surface, a non-contact distance meter that uses the reflection of waves emitted in the air and moves in tandem with the backing plate, and a reflector that reflects the waves and is fixed to one end of the support pole.The non-contact distance meter and the reflector are arranged so that they emit waves in the direction opposite to the direction of the measuring surface.

[0014] In the invention according to claim 2, a base is provided at one end or both ends of the support pole.

[0015] In the invention according to claim 3, the non-contact distance meter is provided with a recording unit for recording the measurement results. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the invention of claim 1, a crop height measuring device that measures the height of above-ground parts of crops, such as plant height and plant height, is arranged so that the non-contact distance meter and reflector emit waves in the opposite direction to the direction of the measurement surface, thereby preventing leaves that block the waves and water surfaces that reflect the waves from getting in the path of the waves.

[0017] Here, we will explain in detail how, according to the invention of claim 1, leaves that block waves and water surfaces that reflect waves do not get in the path of the waves. The crop height measuring device of this invention, like a height gauge, measures the height of the measuring surface by slowly lowering a support plate until the measuring surface lightly touches the highest part, such as the top of a head. When the measuring surface is aligned with the tip of the tallest leaf, there are no leaves on the back side of the measuring surface, opposite the orientation of the measuring surface. According to the invention of claim 1, waves are emitted toward the sky, opposite the orientation of the measuring surface, so there is no water surface in the path of the waves. Therefore, according to the invention of claim 1, waves are emitted from the non-contact rangefinder in the opposite direction to the orientation of the measuring surface, in other words, upward. Therefore, even if the spacing between crop plants is narrow or there is thick undergrowth, the waves are not blocked by leaves at the bottom. Therefore, according to the invention of claim 1, the waves emitted from the non-contact distance meter are not blocked by the leaves below, so that the non-contact distance measurement technology can be applied to a means for measuring the height of the above-ground parts of crops.

[0018] Furthermore, according to the invention of claim 1, since the non-contact rangefinder emits waves in the opposite direction to the direction of the measurement surface, in other words, upward, even if there is a water surface that reflects the emitted waves, such as in a paddy field, the waves will not be reflected by the water surface. Therefore, according to the invention of claim 1, even when measuring the height from the water bottom, such as for rice, the waves emitted from the non-contact rangefinder will not be reflected by the water surface, so it is possible to accurately measure the plant height and height of paddy crops such as rice.

[0019] Furthermore, according to the invention of claim 1, non-contact distance measurement technology is applied to a means for measuring the height of the above-ground part of crops, making it possible to digitize measurements. Therefore, according to the invention of claim 1, errors and misreadings that tend to occur with bamboo rulers can be eliminated, making it possible to achieve accurate measurements. In addition, according to the invention of claim 1, since measurements can be digitized and measured in 0.1mm increments, more precise measurements can be achieved compared to bamboo rulers that have a scale in 1mm increments.

[0020] In addition, according to the invention of claim 1, all components are attached to a support, resulting in a long, slender shape similar to that of a bamboo ruler. Therefore, according to the invention of claim 1, it can be brought into fields where plants are crowded together in the same manner as a bamboo ruler. Also, according to the invention of claim 1, since the measuring surface is aligned with the tip of the tallest leaf, measurements can be taken using the same procedure as a bamboo ruler, where the scale is aligned with the tip of the tallest leaf. Therefore, according to the invention of claim 1, since the shape and procedure are the same as those of a bamboo ruler, it is easy to use even for people familiar with bamboo rulers, and it can easily be introduced as a replacement for a bamboo ruler.

[0021] In addition, according to the invention of claim 1, the non-contact rangefinder emits waves in the opposite direction to the direction of the measurement surface, in other words, upwards, so the waves hit the downward-facing reflector. Therefore, according to the invention of claim 1, the waves hit the downward-facing reflector, in other words, the part of the reflector that is not directly exposed to sunlight, or the shaded part on the inside if you liken it to a parasol, so even when used outdoors in bright light, you can measure while checking that the visible laser light is hitting the reflector correctly.

[0022] Furthermore, according to the invention of claim 1, the wave is reflected between the non-contact rangefinder and the reflector, so the wave does not escape from between them. Therefore, according to the invention of claim 1, the wave, for example, visible laser light, always hits the reflector, so there is no risk of the visible laser light accidentally hitting your eyes.

[0023] According to the invention of claim 2, a base is provided at one or both ends of the support pole, so for example, if a base is attached to the end of the support pole that stands on the ground, the end of the support pole is less likely to sink into the soil. Therefore, according to the invention of claim 2, it is possible to accurately measure the height and plant height even in fields with soft, plowed ground or muddy rice paddies.

[0024] Furthermore, according to the invention of claim 2, for example, if a base is attached to the end of each end of the support, the support can be placed in a lying position. Therefore, according to the invention of claim 2, by placing the support in a lying position, it is also possible to measure the height of the removed crops.

[0025] According to the invention of claim 3, the non-contact distance meter is equipped with a recording unit that records the measurement results, so there is no need to write down the measurement results in a field notebook like with a bamboo ruler. Therefore, according to the invention of claim 3, the measurement work can be done by one person (also called one-operation), which makes it possible to realize labor-saving measurement.

[0026] The effects of this invention have been explained above, divided into the inventions of claims 1 to 3. According to this invention, the measuring method remains the same as with a bamboo ruler, but the measurements are digitized, so it is possible to compare with past data using a bamboo ruler and to carry over past data using a bamboo ruler. Furthermore, because this invention can be used with the same familiar feeling as a bamboo ruler, it is expected to serve as a bridge to smart agriculture, as a technology that bridges the transition from analog to digital and utilizes robotics and information and communications technology (ICT). [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a crop height measuring device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 1A is an explanatory diagram of the mechanism for calculating crop height using a crop height measuring device according to an embodiment, showing the mechanism at the time of initial setup, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram of the mechanism at the time of measurement. [Figure 3]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a crop height measuring device according to an embodiment is used. [Figure 4] 10A is a perspective view showing the use state of a crop height measuring device according to another embodiment, in which FIG. 10A is a perspective view before measurement, and FIG. 10B is a perspective view during measurement. [Figure 5] (a) is an oblique view showing another usage state of the crop height measuring device of the embodiment, in which pinpoint height is measured, and (b) is an oblique view showing the state when measuring the height of long crops. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another use state of the crop height measuring device according to the embodiment, showing the state when measuring the height of short crops. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] First, a brief explanation of the basis for the creation of this invention will be provided. The applicant is an independent administrative institution that conducts research and development in a wide range of fields, from basic to applied, for the development of Japan's agriculture and food industry, and is the largest research institute in Japan in this field. Within this institution, the Agricultural Environment Research Department, to which the inventor belongs, develops and disseminates applied technologies that can flexibly respond to environmental changes and technologies that contribute to sustainable agricultural production with an emphasis on environmental conservation.

[0029] The inventor's research group is conducting research using remote sensing information and maps from satellites, aircraft, drones, etc. In this research, the inventor has been analyzing image data from satellites and other sources to compare the growth status of crops over time.

[0030] While analyzing image data, the inventor came to believe that in order to utilize image data in agriculture, it would be necessary to accumulate and share indicators for determining the growth status of crops so that they could be used throughout society, allowing the growth process of crops to be observed and the current growth status of crops to be compared with past ones.

[0031] Here, plant height is an excellent trait as an indicator for judging the growth status of crops, and there are many situations where surveys are required when judging growth status or selecting varieties, so the inventor has also been surveying plant height on a daily basis. While surveying plant height, the inventor became concerned that even in the Reiwa era, where digitalization is progressing, the method of reading the scale on a bamboo ruler and writing the scale down by hand in a field notebook has not changed for over 100 years, since the Nara period, for example, and began working on developing a crop height measuring device to replace the bamboo ruler, with the goal of "freeing people from the bamboo ruler."

[0032] The inventor then discovered that although non-contact distance measurement technology is thought to be unable to be used in fields where there are leaves that block the emitted waves or water surfaces that reflect the emitted waves, by taking an unconventional approach to non-contact distance measurement technology, that is, by emitting waves toward the target object, accurate measurements can be made even if there is thick undergrowth or water between the target and the non-contact distance measurement technology, and this led to the creation of this invention.

[0033] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a crop height measuring device according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the crop height measuring device 1 is composed of a support pole 2, a backing plate 3 having a measuring surface 3a, a non-contact distance meter 4, a reflector 5, and a base 6, and is equipped with a GNSS receiver 7 that receives signals from a global navigation satellite system (hereinafter also referred to as GNSS). In the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment, the non-contact distance meter 4 and the reflector 5 are arranged so as to emit waves in a direction opposite to the direction of the measuring surface 3a.

[0034] Support 2 is a thin rod that can be held in the hand, about 1.5 m long in this case, and can be divided into three pieces about 50 cm long.

[0035] The contact plate 3 is a thin, flat plate, and the surface that lightly contacts the object to be measured is called the measurement surface 3a. In this case, the contact plate 3 is a flat plate bent into an L shape, and has screw holes formed so that it can be detachably attached to the non-contact distance meter 4.

[0036] The non-contact distance meter 4 is composed of a measurement unit 41, a control unit 42, and a recording unit 43, and is provided with a handle 46 equipped with a measurement button 45. The non-contact distance meter 4 is attached to the support 2 via a magnet so that it can be moved by rubbing it with the force of a hand. In the crop height measuring device 1 according to this embodiment, the measurement value taken by the measurement unit 41 is displayed on the LCD screen and can be recorded in the recording unit 43 together with the date, time, and location information managed by the control unit 42.

[0037] The measuring unit 41 measures the distance to an object using waves such as light or ultrasound, shining waves at the object and analyzing the returning waves to calculate the distance to the object. In this example, the measuring unit 41 uses visible laser light, and the laser output port 41a and light receiving lens 41b are oriented in the opposite direction to the measurement surface 3a.

[0038] The reflector 5 is a thin, flat plate that reflects waves such as light and ultrasound; in this case, it is a circular plate, and the support 2 is passed through a central hole and fixed to one end of the support 2, more specifically, near the end that is on the upper side when the support 2 is held upright on the ground.

[0039] The base 6 is a stand for temporarily placing the support 2, and in this case is a circular plate with the support 2 inserted into the central hole, and is attached so that it can be removed from one end of the support 2, more specifically, from the end that comes into contact with the ground when the support 2 is held upright on the ground.

[0040] The GNSS receiver 7 is a device that receives radio waves emitted by satellites, and in this example, is removably attached to the support 2.

[0041] 2(a) is an explanatory diagram of the initial setting of the mechanism for calculating crop height using the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2(a), before starting measurement, the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment measures the distance (z1) from the position of the laser output port 41a and the light receiving lens 41b to the reflector 5 using the non-contact distance meter 4 when the measurement surface 3a is at a reference height, for example, a height of 50 cm.

[0042] 2(b) is an explanatory diagram illustrating the measurement process of how the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment calculates the crop height. As shown in FIG. 2(b), when measuring the crop height (y) in the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment, the backing plate 3 is slowly lowered until it lightly touches the crop, and the non-contact distance meter 4 measures the distance (z2) from the position of the laser output port 41a and the light receiving lens 41b to the reflector 5 when the measurement surface 3a lightly touches the crop.

[0043] In the crop height measuring device 1 of the embodiment, the crop height (y) is calculated by adding the value (Δz) obtained by subtracting the distance (z2) from the non-contact rangefinder 4 to the reflector 5 when the crop height was measured from the distance (z1) from the non-contact rangefinder 4 to the reflector 5 at a height of 50 cm to the reference height of 50 cm, as shown in the following formula. Crop height (y) = 50 cm + Δz = 50 cm + (z1 - z2)

[0044] In the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment, the distance from the non-contact distance meter 4 to the reflector 5 when the measurement surface 3a is at a reference height, for example, 50 cm, is used as the reference; in other words, the distance from the non-contact distance meter 4 to the reflector 5 at a certain height is used as the reference for each support 2. Therefore, accurate measurements can be made even if the length of each support 2 differs or the fixed position of the reflector 5 is shifted for each support. Furthermore, since the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment uses the distance from the non-contact distance meter 4 to the reflector 5 at a certain height as the reference, even if the length of the support 2 changes when the base 6 is attached or detached from the support 2, accurate measurements can be made of plant height and height by measuring the distance from the non-contact distance meter 4 to the reflector 5 at a certain height each time the length of the support 2 changes.

[0045] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment is used. As shown in FIG. 3, when using the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment to measure the height of a crop, for example, the height of rice R, the crop height measuring device 1 is held upright on the ground in one hand, and the support 2 and the rice R stalk are lightly grasped together with the other hand. The rice R stalk is then squeezed by the leaf tips to raise the drooping leaves vertically. Then, with the rice R leaves held up vertically, the support plate 3 is slowly lowered until the measuring surface 3a lightly touches the tip of the highest leaf from the ground, and the measurement button 45 (see FIG. 1) is pressed. With the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment, the measuring surface 3a is aligned with the tip of the highest leaf to measure, which is the same procedure as using a bamboo ruler, where the scale is aligned with the tip of the highest leaf, making it easy to use even for people familiar with bamboo rulers.

[0046] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, in the crop height measuring device 1 of the embodiment, measurements are taken by pressing the measurement button 45 (see Figure 1), in other words, the measurement is digitized, so there are no errors or misreadings that tend to occur with bamboo rulers, and measurements can be made in 0.1 mm increments compared to a bamboo ruler whose scale is in 1 mm increments.

[0047] 3, the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment has the same long and narrow shape as a bamboo ruler because all components are attached to the support 2. Therefore, the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment can be carried into fields where stalks are crowded together in the same way as a bamboo ruler.

[0048] In addition, as shown in FIG. 3 , in the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment, the non-contact distance meter 4 and the reflector 5 are arranged to emit visible laser light in the direction opposite to the direction of the measurement surface 3 a, so that leaves that block the visible laser light or water surfaces that reflect the visible laser light do not get in the path of the visible laser light. Therefore, in the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment, even if the distance between rice stalks is narrow or there is thick undergrowth, the visible laser light is not blocked by leaves at the bottom. Furthermore, in the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment, even if there is a water surface that reflects the emitted visible laser light, such as in a rice paddy, the visible laser light is not reflected by the water surface.

[0049] 3, in the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment, a base 6 is attached to one end of the support pole 2, more specifically, to the end that comes into contact with the ground when the crop height measuring device 1 is held upright on the ground, so that the end of the support pole 2 is less likely to penetrate into the soil. Therefore, the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment can accurately measure the plant height and height of rice R even in fields with soft, plowed ground or muddy rice paddies.

[0050] Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 3, in the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment, the non-contact distance meter 4 is provided with a recording unit 43 (see Fig. 1) that records the measurement results, so there is no need to write down the measurement results in a field notebook as with a bamboo ruler. Therefore, with the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment, one person can measure the plant height and plant height.

[0051] Additionally, in the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment, the non-contact distance meter 4 emits visible laser light in the direction opposite to the direction of the measurement surface 3a, in other words, upward, so that the visible laser light hits the downward-facing reflector 5. Therefore, in the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment, the visible laser light hits the downward-facing reflector 5, in other words, the part that is not directly exposed to sunlight, or the shaded inner part if compared to a parasol, so that even when used in bright outdoor conditions, measurements can be made while checking that the visible laser light is hitting the reflector 5 correctly.

[0052] Furthermore, in the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment, the visible laser light is reflected between the non-contact range finder 4 and the reflector 5, and therefore the visible laser light does not escape from between the non-contact range finder 4 and the reflector 5. Therefore, in the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment, the visible laser light always hits the reflector 5, and there is no risk of the visible laser light accidentally hitting the eyes.

[0053] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the state of use of a crop height measuring device according to another embodiment, where (a) of FIG. 4 is a perspective view before measurement and (b) of FIG. 4 is a perspective view during measurement. As shown in FIG. 4, in a crop height measuring device 1′ according to another embodiment, pedestals 6′, 6′ are removably attached to both end portions of a support 2. As shown in FIG. 4, in the crop height measuring device 1′ according to another embodiment, because pedestals 6′, 6′ are attached to both end portions of a support 2, the support 2 can be placed in a laid-over position. Therefore, in the crop height measuring device 1′ according to another embodiment, the support 2 can be placed in a laid-over position to measure the plant height of pulled rice plants R.

[0054] In this way, in another embodiment of the crop height measuring device 1', pedestals 6', 6' are attached to both ends of the support 2, and it can be used for destructive measurement by removing the crop, or for non-destructive measurement that does not damage the crop by replacing the pedestals 6', 6' with a pedestal 6 and a GNSS receiver 7 (see Figure 3).

[0055] 5(a) is a perspective view showing another use state of the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment, illustrating a state where pinpoint height is measured. As shown in FIG. 5(a), when pinpoint height is measured, the backing plate 3 (see FIG. 3) is replaced with a backing plate 3' with a thin tip. In this other use state of the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment, the thin tip of the backing plate 3' makes it easy to align the measurement surface 3a' with a very small target, such as the culm length, which is the length from the ground to the ear head.

[0056] FIG. 5(b) is a perspective view showing another usage state of the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment, illustrating the time when measuring the height of a long crop. As shown in FIG. 5(b), when measuring the height of a long crop, the backing plate 3 (see FIG. 3) is replaced with a vertically long backing plate 3''. In another usage state of the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment, since the backing plate 3'' is vertically long, it can also be used as a height measuring device for long crops with a plant height of over 2 m, such as sorghum S. In this way, in the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment, the backing plate 3 (see FIG. 3) can be removably attached to the non-contact distance meter 4, so by replacing the backing plate 3, it is possible to measure crop heights with pinpoint accuracy or the height of long crops with a single crop height measuring device 1.

[0057] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another usage state of the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment, illustrating the time when measuring the height of a short crop. As shown in FIG. 6, when measuring the height of a short crop, the lower support pole is removed when the crop height measuring device 1 (see FIG. 1) is held upright on the ground, shortening it to a length of about 50 cm. In another usage state of the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment, the support pole 2 can be shortened to measure the plant height of short crops such as spinach or Chinese cabbage. In this way, with the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment, the support pole 2 (see FIG. 1) can be divided into sections with a length of about 50 cm, so by removing the support pole, it is possible to use a single crop height measuring device 1 to measure the plant height of rice or the plant height of spinach, Chinese cabbage, or the like.

[0058] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, in the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment, the wave motion is described as visible laser light, but it may be near-infrared laser light or ultrasonic wave.

[0059] Furthermore, in the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment, it has been explained that the backing plate 3 is attached to the non-contact distance meter 4, but as long as the backing plate 3 and the non-contact distance meter 4 move in tandem, it does not matter if the backing plate 3 and the non-contact distance meter 4 are separate and distant from each other.

[0060] Furthermore, in the crop height measuring device 1 according to the embodiment, the crops have been described as rice, spinach, and the like, but the crops are not limited to agricultural crops cultivated in fields, and may be any plant. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 1. Crop height measuring device 2 pillars 3 Backing board 3a Measurement surface 4 Non-contact distance meter 41 Measurement section 41a Laser output port 41b Light receiving lens 42 Control Unit 43 Recording Section 5 Reflector 6. Pedestal

Claims

1. A crop height measuring device for measuring the height of an above-ground part of a crop, such as plant height or height, The pillars and a backing plate having a measuring surface supported by the support so as to slide against the support; a non-contact rangefinder that uses reflection of a wave emitted in the air and is supported on the support so as to move in sliding relation with a backing plate; a reflector fixed to one end of the support for reflecting waves, A crop height measuring device characterized in that the non-contact distance meter and reflector are arranged so as to emit waves in a direction opposite to the direction of the measurement surface.

2. 2. The crop height measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the support has a base at one or both ends of the support.

3. 3. The crop height measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the non-contact distance meter is provided with a recording unit for recording the measurement results.

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