Autonomous Tree Stand Scanning With 3D Canopy Interpolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for measuring tree population and health in forestry lack efficiency and accuracy, particularly in capturing comprehensive tree characteristics and ambient conditions across a stand of trees.
Innovation Solution
A method involving an aerial vehicle that autonomously scans a stand of trees by traversing above and below the canopy, capturing high-resolution images and ambient data, and using computer vision techniques to interpolate and extrapolate tree characteristics and metrics, constructing a virtual three-dimensional representation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional ground-based methods are used to measure tree population and health, then measurement accuracy for individual trees can be achieved, but productivity and coverage area are severely limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from ground-based two-dimensional measurement to aerial three-dimensional measurement by deploying an aerial vehicle to capture images from multiple altitudes and angles, enabling comprehensive stand coverage while maintaining measurement precision through multi-perspective data collection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual three-dimensional representation (digital twin) of the tree stand by capturing and processing images, allowing comprehensive measurement of tree characteristics without physical contact, thus improving both productivity and measurement accuracy simultaneously
2Loss of information
If comprehensive scanning of the entire stand is performed, then complete tree characteristics data can be obtained, but time and resource consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the stand into multiple scan zones and processes images in segments, allowing systematic coverage of the entire area while managing data processing workload efficiently, thus reducing total scanning time without compromising data completeness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent captures images from multiple altitudes including above-canopy and below-canopy perspectives, using partial overlapping coverage to ensure complete tree characteristics data while optimizing scan path efficiency to reduce redundant measurements and time consumption
3Loss of information
If multiple scan zones and flight paths are implemented, then comprehensive tree data coverage is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a single aerial vehicle equipped with cameras and sensors to perform multiple functions including capturing images from different altitudes, navigating through predefined flight paths, and processing data to generate virtual representations, thereby achieving comprehensive data collection without proportionally increasing system complexity
Data Source
AI summary
One variation of a method includes: accessing a boundary of a stand of trees; defining an array of scan zones within the boundary; accessing a first sequence of images representing treetops in a first scan zone; accessing a second sequence of images representing bases of trees in the first scan zone; accessing a third sequence of images representing bases of trees in a second scan zone; accessing a fourth sequence of images representing treetops in the second scan zone; interpolating canopy characteristics of trees between the first scan zone and the second scan zone based on the first and fourth sequences of images; interpolating lower tree characteristics of trees between the first scan zone and the second scan zone based on the second and third sequences of images; and compiling canopy and lower tree characteristics into a virtual representation of tree characteristics across the stand of trees.