Plant Leaf Detection Using Multi-Brightness Image Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for three-dimensional detection of plants in agricultural settings are time-consuming and costly due to the need for controlled lighting conditions, which limits their applicability for large areas and requires extensive resources, and two-dimensional detection methods fail to accurately determine plant leaf orientation and surface area due to limited information from color images.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that involve capturing multiple photographs of a plant leaf with varying brightness levels to perform dynamic range compression, allowing for the selection of appropriate image points from different photographs to create a composite representation that enhances segmentation by eliminating overexposure and underexposure issues, enabling accurate detection of plant leaves against backgrounds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If stripe-light methods or light section methods are used for three-dimensional detection, then spatial three-dimensional resolution is improved, but detection time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by using a moving light source that scans across the plant canopy in a single pass, transforming the static multi-pattern projection requirement into a dynamic single-sweep measurement process. This allows three-dimensional detection to be performed rapidly without requiring multiple sequential light patterns to be projected.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses preliminary action by pre-calibrating the relationship between light position and detected signal characteristics before actual measurement. This calibration data enables the system to rapidly determine three-dimensional information during the actual scanning process without requiring complex real-time computations.
2Measurement precision
If stripe-light methods or light section methods are used for three-dimensional detection, then spatial three-dimensional resolution is improved, but device complexity and resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single detection device that can measure entire plant populations in field conditions without requiring specialized controlled environments. The moving light source and detector combination serves multiple functions: illumination, three-dimensional mapping, and population-level analysis all in one instrument.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies self-service by using the plant canopy itself as the measurement target and reference frame. The system measures plants in their natural growing conditions without requiring artificial structures like tents or controlled lighting environments, allowing the measurement system to adapt to the natural variability of field conditions.
3Ease of operation
If color pictures are used for plant segmentation, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to overexposure and underexposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by measuring light intensity at multiple wavelengths or intensity levels rather than relying on a single color image. This allows the system to capture plant reflectance characteristics across different brightness ranges, eliminating overexposure and underexposure problems while maintaining simple operational procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for detecting a plant against a background includes a provider for providing a plurality of different photographs of the plant leaf against the background, the photographs differing in that image points of the different photographs relating to the same location of the plant leaf are illuminated with different levels of brightness, a selector for selecting such image points, from the different photographs, whose levels of brightness are within a predetermined range, an image point of a first photograph being selected for a first location of the plant leaf, and an image point of a second, different photograph being selected for a different location of the plant leaf to obtain a representation of the plant leaf against the background, the representation being composed of and/or merged from different photographs, and a segmenter for segmenting the composite photograph to obtain a segment representation having the plant leaf without the background or the background without the plant leaf.