Agricultural robots gain detailed vision with 3D scanner

Researchers from the German universities of Würzburg and Potsdam have developed an innovative 3D laser scanner capable of assisting agricultural robots in evaluating plants and fruits with extremely high precision. The equipment uses three colors of light: green, red, and near-infrared. The first two allow for capturing the shape and structure of plants, while the infrared penetrates deeper into the tissues, revealing physiological properties such as the water content in leaves and fruits. The functioning of the technology is based on measuring the reflection of light on leaves and stems, which makes it possible to quickly create detailed 3D models of the plants. From this data, farmers and researchers can verify if there is water deficiency, assess the stage of fruit ripening, and monitor the development of crops. Thus, the scanner offers fundamental information for agricultural management and for the automation of harvesting. The objective of the scientists is to improve the ...