Map-Based Crop Targeting for Precise Autonomous Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current agricultural technologies face challenges in efficiently and sustainably increasing food production to meet the demands of a growing global population, as existing methods are incremental and still incur high costs in terms of land, chemicals, time, and labor.
Innovation Solution
An agricultural observation and treatment system utilizing cameras, light emitting devices, and an electronically controlled pump to identify and precisely target agricultural objects for treatment, leveraging artificial intelligence and computer vision to determine the location, growth stage, and apply chemical treatments autonomously.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional agricultural treatment methods are used, then treatment coverage is achieved, but resource efficiency is low and waste is high
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies treatments locally to specific agricultural objects rather than uniformly across entire fields. The camera identifies individual plants or crops needing treatment, and the treatment device delivers chemicals only to those specific locations, creating localised treatment zones that reduce overall chemical usage while maintaining effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary identification and mapping of agricultural objects before treatment. Cameras capture images and GPS records locations in advance, allowing the system to plan and execute precise treatment routes, avoiding unnecessary chemical application and reducing waste.
2Productivity
If manual agricultural treatment methods are used, then treatment can be applied, but labor costs and time consumption are high
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual mechanical treatment methods with an automated system combining computer vision (cameras), GPS localization, and automated treatment delivery. The camera continuously captures images of agricultural objects, the system processes this data to identify targets, and the treatment device automatically applies treatments, eliminating the need for manual inspection and application.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is autonomous and self-operating, requiring minimal human intervention. Once deployed, the system independently identifies agricultural objects, determines treatment needs, navigates to targets using GPS, and applies treatments automatically, freeing up human labor for other tasks.
3Measurement precision
If precision treatment is implemented, then resource efficiency improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the agricultural treatment task into distinct functional segments: image capture by camera, location recording by GPS, image processing and object identification by the processor, and treatment delivery by the treatment device. This segmentation allows each component to be relatively simple while the integrated system achieves high precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses image data and GPS coordinates as intermediary information carriers between the detection phase and treatment phase. The camera captures visual information, GPS provides location data, and the processor uses these intermediaries to identify targets and guide the treatment device, creating a clear information flow that manages system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of an apparatus, methods, systems and computer program products described herein are directed to an agricultural observation and treatment system and method of operation. The agricultural treatment system may determine a first real-world geo-spatial location of the treatment system. The system can receive captured images depicting real-world agricultural objects of a geographic scene. The system can associate captured images with the determined geo-spatial location of the treatment system. The treatment system can identify, from a group of mapped and indexed images, images having a second real-word geo-spatial location that is proximate with the first real-world geo-spatial location. The treatment system can compare at least a portion of the identified images with at least a portion of the captured images. The treatment system can determine a target object and emit a fluid projectile at the target object using a treatment device.