Monitoring System with Flexibility and Movability Functions for Collecting Target Images in Detail

ABSTRACT In modern agriculture, it has recently become popular to monitor crop status in open fields with sensor networks such as Field Servers. A key technology for use in this monitoring is image data that can be easily collected at low cost as a result of the development of information technology. High resolution image data has the potential to provide useful information including information regarding changes in growth stage, the occurrence of pests, the degree of maturity, and so on. However, it is difficult to deploy monitoring equipment close to the target crops to collect image data in detail because deploying equipment within crop fields disturbs some farming operations and the growth of crops. Moreover, image data captured in close proximity to the targets can be unclear due to the effects of wind and the interference of growing leaves, and the target area also changes depending on the crop stage and condition. To solve these problems regarding the collecting of target images in detail, we have proposed an advanced monitoring system with flexibility and movability and developed a proto type system of the robotic Field Server. The robotic Field Server consists of a Field Server with image sensors, a locomotion unit so that it can move itself, and a handling actuator for monitoring targets closely in detail. The features of the proposed system are intended to obtain wide and dense monitoring coverage, to measure many targets with one device, to approach targets from different directions, and to monitor targets clearly by taking unnecessary objects out of the way. We conducted an experiment to collect crop images as the proto type Field Server was moved around the field and to clarify the potential and effectiveness of the locomotive monitoring system