Map-Based Crop Targeting for Precision Chemical 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, with existing methods being incremental and still requiring significant land, chemicals, time, and labor.
Innovation Solution
An agricultural observation and treatment system utilizing cameras, light emitting devices, and a treatment device mounted on a gimbal, equipped with onboard electronic circuitry and sensors, employs artificial intelligence and computer vision to identify and precisely target agricultural objects for chemical treatment, optimizing resource use and reducing waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If traditional agricultural treatment methods are used, then coverage area is large, but chemical usage efficiency is low and waste is high
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different treatments to different locations based on real-time identification of target objects. The camera system and processing unit identify specific agricultural objects that need treatment, and the treatment device applies chemicals only to those specific locations rather than uniform blanket treatment, thereby improving chemical usage efficiency while maintaining effective coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary identification and mapping of target objects using camera imaging and geo-spatial location determination before applying treatment. The processing unit analyzes captured images to identify target objects and their locations, then the treatment device proceeds to treat only those identified targets, preventing waste of chemicals on non-target areas.
2Productivity
If manual agricultural treatment is used, then flexibility is high, but labor requirements are significant and productivity is low
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automated identification, location determination, and treatment application without manual intervention. The camera system automatically captures images, the processing unit automatically identifies target objects and determines their geo-spatial locations, and the treatment device automatically applies treatment based on this information, thereby increasing productivity while managing complexity through integrated automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual mechanical treatment operations with an automated integrated system combining optical detection (cameras), computational processing (image analysis and geo-spatial determination), and automated treatment delivery. This substitution of manual mechanical operations with automated systems increases treatment throughput while the integration of components manages overall system complexity.
3Measurement precision
If conventional treatment application is used, then speed is fast, but precision of target identification is low
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification of target objects using camera imaging and image processing before treatment application. The processing unit analyzes captured images to identify target objects and determines their precise geo-spatial locations in advance, ensuring high identification accuracy. This preliminary identification enables subsequent rapid treatment application to the precisely located targets without compromising speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary processing stage between target detection and treatment application. The processing unit acts as an intermediary that receives image data, identifies target objects, determines geo-spatial locations, and translates this information into treatment device control signals. This intermediary processing ensures precise target identification while maintaining treatment application speed through efficient data translation and device control.
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.