Multi-angle Light-section Plant Measurement System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automatic measurement systems for plants are limited in detecting complex plant architectures, often resulting in incomplete or inaccurate 3D reconstruction and color analysis, particularly for plants with intricate geometries and movable branches.
Innovation Solution
A device with multiple light-section measuring devices and color imaging cameras is used, where fan beams are directed from different angles around a rotation axis, allowing for complete detection of complex plants by capturing 3D shape and color information from various viewpoints during rotation, and a controller manages the rotation and data capture to ensure comprehensive measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single light-section measuring device is used for plant detection, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision is insufficient for complex plant architectures
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement system is segmented into multiple light-section measuring devices, each responsible for capturing plant geometry from specific directions. This segmentation allows comprehensive coverage of complex plant architectures while maintaining manageable complexity through modular device arrangement around the rotation axis
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from single-direction 2D imaging to multi-directional 3D measurement by arranging light-section devices in three-dimensional space around the rotation axis. This dimensional expansion enables accurate reconstruction of complex plant structures that cannot be captured from a single viewpoint
2Reliability
If multiple light-section measuring devices are arranged around the rotation axis, then the detection completeness improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple light-section measuring devices are merged into a single integrated measurement system that rotates together around the plant. This combining approach achieves comprehensive detection coverage while reducing operational complexity by synchronizing all devices through a single rotation mechanism controlled by the controller
3Measurement precision
If fan beams are directed from a single direction, then the device complexity is low, but shadowing effects reduce measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs asymmetric arrangement of fan beams from multiple directions rather than symmetric single-direction illumination. This asymmetric multi-angle configuration ensures that no single shadowing effect dominates, allowing comprehensive capture of plant geometry including undersides and hidden surfaces
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 efficient and complete 3D and color detection of complex plants, reducing shadowing effects and improving measurement accuracy, allowing for rapid assessment of plant shapes and vitality, suitable for industrial and research applications.
Implementation Method 1
fan beams are directed onto the complexly formed object from fan directions which, when projected into a common plane through which the rotation axis extends, by rotation around the rotation axis, differ from each other
Implementation Method 2
a rotator for causing a rotation between the complexly formed object and the plurality of light-section measuring devices around a rotation axis
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of color imaging cameras for capturing color images of the complexly formed object from different color imaging directions
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
A device (100) for measuring a plant (105) comprises a plurality of light-section measuring devices (110), a rotator for causing a rotation (120) between the plant (105) and the plurality of light-section measuring devices (110) around a rotation axis (101), wherein each of the plurality of light-section measuring devices (110) is configured to generate a respective fan beam (130) in a respective fan plane, wherein the fan planes are arranged such that the rotation axis (101) extends within each of the fan planes, wherein the plurality of light-section measuring devices (110) is configured such that the fan beams (130) are directed to the plant (105) from different fan directions (135) which, when projected into a common plane (115) through which the rotation axis extends, by rotation around the rotation axis, differ from each other.