Smartphone Crop Measurement via Reference Standard Scaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current image-based measurement systems in agriculture lack precision and accuracy due to insufficient calibration and complexity, particularly when using off-the-shelf devices like smartphones, which are not adequately equipped to handle the specialized needs of precision agriculture.
Innovation Solution
A digital image-based measurement system that employs a reference standard piece and a novel scaling routine to counter perspective distortions, allowing for accurate and precise measurements by correlating apparent image dimensions with physical dimensions using a pixel scaling ratio.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If off-the-shelf devices like smartphones are used for image-based measurement, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but measurement precision and accuracy deteriorate due to insufficient calibration capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
A reference standard piece is introduced as an intermediary element between the camera and the target object. This reference piece contains known geometric features that serve as a mediator to establish the pixel-to-physical-dimension relationship, enabling accurate measurements with simple smartphone cameras without requiring complex calibration hardware
Solution Approach 2:
The reference standard piece is positioned in the field of view before capturing the target object image. This preliminary action establishes the scaling relationship and perspective parameters in advance, allowing the system to compensate for camera distortions and calculate accurate measurements of the target object
2Ease of operation
If simple calibration methods are used with off-the-shelf devices, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to perspective distortions and foreshortening effects
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically calculates and adjusts the pixel scaling ratio based on the reference standard piece's known dimensions and its position in the image. This parameter change compensates for perspective distortions and foreshortening effects, maintaining measurement accuracy while keeping the operation simple for the user
3Measurement precision
If specialized measurement systems are used to achieve high precision, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation worsen
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using complex specialized measurement hardware, the system creates a digital copy of the measurement process using standard smartphone cameras. The reference standard piece serves as a calibration template that enables the simple camera to achieve precision comparable to specialized systems through image processing and scaling calculations
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media that allow a user to easily obtain accurate image-based measurements of physical items, including one or more crops. Also disclosed herein are systems, methods and non-transitory computer-readable storage media that utilize the accurate measurements to generate one or more derived metric.