Camera Parameter Adjustment for Plant Treatment Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional plant treatment systems face inefficiencies in applying targeted treatments due to uncalibrated camera parameters, which are affected by changing lighting conditions and weather, leading to inconsistent image quality and ineffective treatment of crops and weeds.

Innovation Solution

The plant treatment system automatically adjusts camera operation parameters using image segmentation and plant detection models to improve image quality, allowing for more effective identification and treatment of plants by adjusting exposure settings based on pixel values and image segments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If camera parameters are fixed for plant identification, then the system structure is simple, but image quality becomes inconsistent under changing lighting conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage quality consistencyVSAvoidparameter adjustment mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically adjusts camera parameters by analyzing image segments and detecting plant pixels, enabling self-calibration without external intervention. The camera system serves itself by using captured images to determine exposure adjustments, eliminating the need for manual parameter setting or complex external control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system captures images, analyzes plant pixel exposure, determines required exposure adjustments, and applies parameter changes in a closed-loop feedback mechanism. This continuous monitoring and adjustment ensures image quality consistency despite varying lighting conditions throughout the day.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If broad spray treatment is applied to all plants, then the treatment system is simple to operate, but treatment efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment efficiencyVSAvoidtargeted treatment capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the field into individual plant targets using image analysis and plant detection models. By identifying and treating plants one by one based on their detected positions and types, the system achieves precise targeted treatment rather than applying broad spray to entire areas, thereby improving treatment efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of time

If camera parameters are adjusted manually, then the adjustment process is simple to understand, but time is lost during parameter calibration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecalibration timeVSAvoidautomatic parameter adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automatic parameter adjustment by analyzing captured images and determining exposure requirements without human intervention. This self-calibration process eliminates time loss associated with manual parameter setting while maintaining operational simplicity through automated decision-making algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs exposure adjustment based on real-time image analysis before treatment decisions are made. By preliminarily determining the required exposure parameters from captured images, the system ensures optimal image quality is achieved prior to plant identification and treatment planning, preventing time loss during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Measurement precision

If images are captured as whole frames, then the processing is simple, but the exposure adjustment precision for plants is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexposure measurement accuracyVSAvoidimage processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides captured images into segments and identifies plant pixels within those segments. By analyzing exposure specifically in plant-containing segments rather than treating the entire image frame uniformly, the system achieves precise exposure measurement for plants while using computational methods to manage the increased processing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies different exposure analysis and adjustment strategies to different regions of the image based on plant detection results. Rather than uniform whole-frame processing, the system focuses computational resources on plant-containing segments, applying local quality assessment and adjustment to improve measurement precision where it matters most.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3622436B1Automatic camera parameter adjustment on a plant treatment system
Publication Date: 2024.07.17 BLUE RIVER TECHNOLOGY INC
  • EP3622436B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3622436B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3622436B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A plant treatment system automatically adjusts camera operation parameters for a camera used by the plant treatment system to identify and treat plants in a field. The plant treatment system can generate image segments of images received from the camera and classify the image segments based on whether the image segments represent plants. The plant treatment system determines whether each of the image segments is over- or under-exposed and adjusts the camera operation parameters for the camera based on the exposure classification of the image segments. Alternatively, the plant treatment system may use a plant detection model to identify plant pixels within an image that represent plants. The plant treatment system can then determine whether the identified plant pixels are over- or under-exposed and adjust the camera operation parameters accordingly.