Multi-Sensor Crop Platform for Non-Contact Health Screening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current crop monitoring systems face challenges in predicting crop quality and yield, detecting pests and diseases early, and providing precise intervention due to reliance on human scouts, which can spread diseases and are subjective, and existing sensor systems are often cumbersome, costly, and lack real-time sensitivity.
Innovation Solution
A multi-sensor device and mobile sensory platform that capture and transmit plant-related data without physical contact, using physiological, surface analysis, chemical, and thermal imaging sensors, with a control unit and communication interface for wireless data transmission, allowing for autonomous movement and integration of expert knowledge for predictive modeling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If human scouts are used to visually inspect crops, then crop monitoring can be performed, but diseases and pests may spread through physical contact and human interpretation is subjective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces human scouts with automated sensor systems that use optical, electrical, and electronic mechanisms to detect crop health parameters. Sensors capture reflectance spectra, electrical signals, and other physical measurements without physical contact with plants, eliminating the risk of disease transmission while providing objective, quantifiable data for precise crop health assessment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces sensors as intermediary devices between the observer and the crop. These sensors act as mediators that detect plant physiological states through electromagnetic radiation and electrical signals without requiring direct physical contact, thereby preventing pathogen transmission while maintaining monitoring capability.
2Measurement precision
If sensor systems are deployed for crop monitoring, then objective data collection is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multi-functional sensor systems that can detect multiple crop health parameters (chlorophyll content, water stress, nutrient status, disease presence) using integrated sensor arrays. The system combines optical sensors for spectral analysis, electrical sensors for physiological measurements, and environmental sensors for microclimate monitoring, allowing one system to perform multiple monitoring functions simultaneously, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple sensing capabilities into integrated sensor platforms that combine optical, electrical, and environmental sensing in unified systems. By consolidating multiple measurement functions into single devices and using data fusion techniques, the system reduces the number of separate components needed while maintaining comprehensive crop monitoring capability.
3Loss of time
If traditional sensor systems are used, then some crop data can be collected, but real-time monitoring and early detection capability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous monitoring using automated sensor systems that continuously measure crop physiological parameters without interruption. The system continuously captures spectral data, electrical signals, and environmental conditions, enabling real-time detection of crop stress before visible symptoms appear, thereby reducing detection time while maintaining high sensitivity through uninterrupted data collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses sensors to detect early physiological changes in crops before visual symptoms manifest. By monitoring subtle changes in reflectance spectra, electrical conductivity, and other physiological parameters in advance, the system enables preliminary detection of pests, diseases, and stress conditions, allowing intervention before significant damage occurs.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables rapid, sensitive screening of individual plant health, reduces human labor, and provides predictive models to prevent deterioration, offering a more accurate and consistent assessment of crop health compared to human experts.
Implementation Method 1
an optical sensor for detecting a plant reflectance spectrum
Implementation Method 2
an electrical sensor for detecting a voltage or current signal
Implementation Method 3
a thermal imaging sensor for detecting radiation in the thermal infrared spectrum
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-sensor device includes a housing having multiple cavities and one or more sensor modules. Each sensor module is configured to occupy one of the cavities, and each sensor module is configured to sense at least one plant-related parameter when the multi-sensor device is positioned proximate to a plant. The multi-sensor device also includes a control unit configured to control operation of the one or more sensor modules and a location tracking system configured to track a location of the multi-sensor device. The multi-sensor device further includes a communications interface configured to transmit information including data from the one or more sensor modules. In addition, the multi-sensor device includes an electrical power connector configured to connect the multi-sensor device to a power source.