3D Crop Plant Segmentation for Precision Treatment Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing agricultural technologies lack the ability to apply agricultural treatments on a sub-crop plant level with precision, leading to inefficiencies in treatments such as spraying, harvesting, and pruning.

Innovation Solution

A method involving segmentation of a crop plant's three-dimensional model into multiple segments, determining segment-specific characteristics, and providing output data for controlling agricultural machines to apply treatments segment-wise, using media and operation control data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If agricultural treatments are applied to entire crop plants without segmentation, then the operation process is simple, but the treatment precision and efficiency are low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment precisionVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the crop plant into multiple three-dimensional segments (e.g., crown, trunk, roots) with distinct boundary surfaces. Each segment can receive tailored agricultural treatments independently, enabling precise application to specific plant parts while maintaining manageable operational complexity through systematic segmentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If agricultural treatments are applied uniformly to all crop plants, then the operation process is simple, but the resource utilization and treatment effectiveness are inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables different agricultural treatments to be applied to different segments of the same crop plant based on their specific characteristics and requirements. Each three-dimensional segment can receive customized treatment parameters, optimizing resource utilization and treatment effectiveness while the control system manages complexity through structured segment-based control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If detailed three-dimensional modeling and segmentation is performed on crop plants, then the treatment precision is improved, but the data processing requirements and computational load increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplant characterization precisionVSAvoiddata processing load
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the complex three-dimensional plant model into distinct segments with clear boundaries, the patent reduces the computational complexity of data processing. Each segment can be processed independently with fewer data points required compared to processing the entire plant as a single complex structure, thereby reducing overall data processing load while maintaining high precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4018816B1Method for determining output data from crop plant characteristics for a crop plant, method for controlling operation of an agricultural machine, agricultural machine, and computer program product
Publication Date: 2025.07.23 KUBOTA CORP
  • EP4018816B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4018816B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4018816B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure refers to a method for determining output data from crop plant characteristics for a crop plant, the method comprising, in a data processing system (2) having one or more processors: providing measurement data detected for a crop plant (1); determining model data representing a three dimensional model of the crop plant (1) from the measurement data; segmenting the three dimensional model of the crop plant (1) into a plurality of three dimensional segments; determining first crop plant characteristics for a first subpart of the crop plant (1) provided in a first three dimensional segment of the plurality of three dimensional segments; and providing output data at an output device (3). The output data comprise at least one of the following: media data comprising at least one of video data and audio data indicative of the first crop plant characteristics for the first subpart of the crop plant (1) provided in the first three dimensional segment; and operation control data indicative of operation control signals for controlling operating of an agricultural machine working on the crop plant (1), the operation control signals comprising first operation control signals determined from the first crop plant characteristics and configured to control operation of the agricultural machine for applying an agricultural treatment to the first subpart of the crop plant (1). Further, a method for controlling operation of an agricultural machine, an agricultural machine, and a computer program product are provided.