Reconfigurable Crop Scanning Mounts for Multi-Crop Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing crop scanning systems are inadequate for diverse crop types and conditions, requiring multiple specialized devices due to varying crop geometries and features of interest at different heights and times, leading to suboptimal decision-making based on non-uniform crop sampling.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable scanning system mounted on a vehicle with adjustable mountings and interchangeable scanning equipment, including cameras, lighting, and lidar, adaptable via a control system for different crop types and conditions, enabling efficient scanning across multiple crop types with minimal reconfiguration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a fixed arrangement of scanning hardware is used for one crop type, then scanning accuracy for that specific crop is improved, but the system becomes unsuitable for other crop types or different growth stages
Solution Approach 1:
The scanning system employs dynamically adjustable mountings that allow the scanning equipment to be repositioned and reoriented during operation. This enables the system to adapt to different crop geometries, heights, and configurations, resolving the contradiction between maintaining fixed scanning accuracy for a specific crop type and achieving versatility across multiple crop types and growth stages
Solution Approach 2:
The scanning system is designed with universal mounting mechanisms that can accommodate various scanning equipment configurations for different crop types. The system performs multiple functions by adjusting the same hardware arrangement to scan different crop geometries, heights, and features of interest, eliminating the need for multiple specialized scanning devices
2Measurement precision
If multiple specialized scanning devices are constructed for different crop types, then scanning accuracy for each crop type is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of constructing multiple specialized scanning devices for different crop types, the invention employs a single scanning system with universal adjustable mountings that can be configured for various crop types. This reduces device complexity while maintaining the ability to achieve accurate scans for each specific crop type through proper positioning and orientation of the scanning equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamically adjustable mountings that allow real-time reconfiguration of scanning equipment positions and angles. This dynamic adaptability replaces the need for multiple fixed specialized devices, reducing overall system complexity while preserving crop-specific scanning accuracy through flexible positioning
3Loss of time
If sampling techniques are used to inspect crops, then inspection time and resources are reduced, but decision-making accuracy deteriorates due to non-uniform crop distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The scanning system provides comprehensive coverage of the entire crop area rather than relying on limited samples. By using adjustable mountings to scan all crops uniformly across the field, the system eliminates sampling bias and provides complete data for accurate decision-making, while still maintaining efficiency through automated scanning
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically scans and collects data from the entire crop area without requiring manual sampling decisions. The adjustable mountings enable the system to self-adapt to different crop configurations and perform comprehensive inspections autonomously, providing complete data coverage for accurate decision-making while minimizing human intervention and time loss
Data Source
AI summary
A scanning system for scanning crops is described, the system being arranged to be mounted to a vehicle and to be traversed along rows of crops, the system including: a carrier which is arranged to be mounted to a vehicle; a number of mountings for attaching items of scanning equipment to the carrier; and wherein at least some of the mountings may be adjusted to allow the scanning system to be reconfigured for use in different scanning scenarios.