RF Sensing Baseline for Moving Plants in Horticulture
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Solution Overview
Problem
In horticulture systems, particularly in plant farms where plants are grown on conveyor belts, it is challenging to accurately monitor plant growth and development due to the movement of plants, which makes it difficult to create a high-quality baseline for radiofrequency (RF) sensing algorithms. This hinders precise estimation of leaf mass and other plant-related parameters.
Innovation Solution
A horticulture system comprising a plurality of horticulture system units with radio transmission pairs for monitoring plant growth stages, and a control system that executes sensing stages to determine plant-related parameter data. The system uses a baseline signal derived from a second signal obtained in a different horticulture unit space to calculate volumetric plant-related parameters like leaf volume, root volume, and fruit volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If plants are grown on conveyor belts in modern horticulture systems, then productivity and automation are improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to plant movement making baseline creation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary baselining in a first horticulture unit space before the plant moves to the measurement location in a second unit space. This preliminary baseline is stored and later retrieved for comparison, allowing accurate measurements despite plant movement on conveyor belts
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a baseline copy of the plant's RF characteristics in an earlier location and time, then uses this copied baseline data for comparison at the measurement location. This allows the moving plant to be measured against its own historical baseline without requiring the plant to be stationary
2Productivity
If RF sensing is used to monitor moving plants, then productivity is improved through continuous monitoring, but measurement precision deteriorates due to the difficulty of tracking plant development
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously compares RF measurement data from moving plants against stored baseline data, providing feedback on plant development stages. This enables continuous monitoring while maintaining precision through systematic comparison with reference measurements
Solution Approach 2:
Baseline measurements are performed preliminarily at specific locations or times before the plant reaches the measurement point, establishing a reference state that accounts for the plant's development stage even as it moves through the system
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
This approach allows for reliable monitoring of plant development, enabling the definition of a reliable baseline for measurement comparison, and facilitating the determination of plant-related parameters even for moving plants, thus enhancing controllability and reliability in horticulture systems.
Implementation Method 1
a radio transmission pair (120) arranged to monitor the horticulture unit space (110) with radiofrequency sensing
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a horticulture system (1) comprising a plurality of repeating horticulture system units (100) and a control system (300), wherein: each horticulture system unit (100) comprises (i) a horticulture unit space (110) and (ii) a radio transmission pair (120) arranged to monitor the horticulture unit space (110), wherein the radio transmission pair (120) comprises a radio transmitter and a radio receiver arranged in radio signal receiving relationship; the control system (300) is configured to execute in a unit sensing stage (230) a measurement in at least one of the horticulture unit spaces (110) with the respective radio transmission pair (120); the control system (300) is further configured in an operational mode to: (i) execute a first signal sensing stage (231), wherein the first signal sensing stage (231) comprises the unit sensing stage (230) with a first radio transmission pair (121) related to first horticulture unit space (111) thereby providing a first signal (241) to the control system (300); and (ii) determine a plant-related parameter data based on (a) the first signal (241) and (b) a baseline signal (245), wherein the baseline signal (245) is based on a second signal (242) obtained with an execution of a second signal sensing stage (232), wherein the second signal sensing stage (232) comprises the unit sensing stage (230) with a second radio transmission pair (122) related to a second horticulture unit space (112) thereby providing the second signal (242).