Aerial UAV Phytobiopsy System for Plant Sample Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current phytopathology methods for plant disease detection are imprecise and labor-intensive, as they rely on manual sample collection and visual identification, which is time-consuming and often inadequate for early detection, especially in large farms where access to all areas is difficult and diseases cannot be visually distinguished with certainty.
Innovation Solution
A low-cost aerial phytobiopsy system using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with an arm assembly and sample collector for quick and reliable acquisition of plant samples, enabling ex-situ analysis, and an environmental sensor probe for persistent collection of air, soil, and pest samples.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual sample collection methods are used, then labor intensity and time consumption increase, but the ability to access all areas of large farms and collect sufficient samples decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical sample collection with an automated aerial robotic system that uses robotic arms equipped with sample collectors to autonomously access and collect plant samples from difficult-to-reach areas, thereby improving both collection efficiency and sample representation without human labor
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from ground-based manual sampling to aerial robotic sampling, adding the vertical dimension to sample collection. This enables access to tree canopies and upper plant areas that are inaccessible to ground-based scouts, improving sample representation while maintaining high productivity
2Measurement precision
If visual identification methods are used for disease detection, then the process remains simple and quick, but detection precision and reliability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by collecting and preserving samples in optimal condition using the aerial robotic system, preparing them for immediate ex-situ analysis. This preliminary proper sample acquisition eliminates the need for time-consuming visual field diagnosis while ensuring high detection accuracy through proper sample preservation from the start
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary element - the aerial robotic sample collection system - that bridges the gap between field detection and laboratory analysis. This intermediary ensures samples are collected in a controlled manner suitable for precise ex-situ analysis, enabling accurate disease detection without relying on imprecise visual methods
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional ground-based sampling systems are used, then equipment complexity remains low, but the ability to access tree tops and difficult terrain decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex ground-based mechanical access systems (such as ladders, climbing equipment, or vehicle-based platforms) with an aerial robotic system that naturally accesses difficult terrain by flying. This substitution achieves superior terrain adaptability while actually reducing overall system complexity by eliminating the need for complex ground-based access mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
The present subject matter relates to systems, devices, and methods for agricultural sample collection. In one aspect, a sample collection system includes an aerial robotic platform, an arm assembly coupled to the aerial robotic platform and comprising an arm that extends away from the aerial robotic platform, and a sample collector connected to a distal end of the arm, wherein the sample collector is configured to selectively remove one or more samples of agricultural material from a plant to be analyzed.