Evaluation of a stereo vision as a canopy detection sensor for variable rate specialty crop sprayers

Authors: Jeon, Hongyoung; Zhu, Heping; ROMAN, CARLA - The Ohio State University; CAMPOS, JAVIER - The Ohio State University; SALCEDO, RAMON - Universitat Politècnica De Catalunya (UPC); OZKAN, ERDAL - The Ohio State University

Submitted to: Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/9/2022
Publication Date: 11/5/2022
Citation: Jeon, H., Zhu, H., Roman, C., Campos, J., Salcedo, R., Ozkan, E. 2022. Evaluation of a stereo vision as a canopy detection sensor for variable rate specialty crop sprayers. Symposium Proceedings. SIMA Agritech Day 5th Edition, November 5, 2022, Paris, France. p. 317-328.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Reducing crop protection product uses and environmental impacts from its application while maintaining the convenience for applicators require real-time variable rate sprayer coupled with a canopy detection sensor. A commercial stereo vision (depth camera) was tested as a mean of detecting the canopy of ornamental and tree crops for the sprayer. A custom-designed data acquisition program was developed to control the depth camera and acquire RGB, IR and depth images to a computer. The depth camera showed adequate performance in detecting canopy and its contour changes while detecting outdoor stationary crabapple and oak trees. In addition, the camera detected tree foliage canopy of a crabapple tree in various outdoor conditions between sunrise and sunset with reasonable accuracy with less than 6% variations under various illuminations between sunrise and sunset. The evaluation results suggested that the performance of the depth camera was adequate for tree canopy detections under outdoor conditions and it would also satisfy the performance requirements to use with new sensor-driven variable rate sprayer for specialty crop applications.