Enhancing precision agriculture with 20MP cameras

Precision agriculture has increasingly turned towards embedded vision systems for accelerating and improving farming practices. This can be evidenced by the role of imaging technology in the detection of weeds and bugs, which are critical components of crop management. Designed to replicate human visual perception, these systems identify and differentiate between crops, weeds, and pests. This capability empowers the targeted application of herbicides and pesticides while optimising resource usage and minimising environmental impact.

In this blog, we’ll look at why weed and bug detection are critical in precision agriculture and how AR2020 sensor-powered camera solutions play a major role in the overall process.

Why ineffective weed and bug detection can be deadly

• Results in poor crop yields due to competition from weeds and damage from pests
• Causes an increased usage of herbicides and pesticides, triggering environmental degradation and potential health risks for consumers
• Increases labour and resource costs, impacting the profitability of farming operations

Role of AR2020 sensor-based cameras for weed and bug detection

The AR2020 sensor is a part of onsemi’s Hyperlux LP product family. It is a 1/1.8-inch stacked CMOS digital image sensor with a 5120 x 3840 active-pixel array. The sensor is equipped with a 1.4 μm BSI pixel from onsemi, optimised for outstanding performance in low-light and Near-Infrared (NIR) wavelengths. It is a high-quality, low-power consumption device, making it an ideal choice for data capturing at the edge of smart agriculture. Some of its unique features for weed and bug detection include

High resolution

AR2020 sensor-based cameras can be tremendously effective for critical monitoring tasks that require high resolution images. For example, it allows for detailed imaging while monitoring leaf edges for bug bites. This enables the detection of minute changes in leaf structure and coloration, which are indicative of insect activity. So, it becomes easy to detect pest infestation, allowing for timely intervention and minimising crop damage. Also, the high resolution improves weed detection by making it possible to differentiate between crop plants and weeds based on their NIR light reflection patterns.

Enhanced Dynamic Range (eDR)

This feature broadens the range of light intensities it can capture, from the brightest to the darkest. Why is this crucial? In agriculture, lighting conditions can vary dramatically, from direct sunlight to shadows under foliage. The eDR guarantees that details are not lost in such high-contrast scenarios, enabling more accurate detection and classification of weeds, pests, and diseases in crops. This feature also helps deliver consistent image quality throughout the day as sunlight intensity and angles change.

Enhanced NIR response

AR2020 sensor’s enhanced Near-Infrared (NIR) response is a game-changer for weed and bud detection applications. This feature boosts the sensor’s ability to capture images in the NIR spectrum, which is beyond the visible range for humans. This characteristic is leveraged to distinguish between healthy crops and unwanted weeds or pests.

For instance, enhanced NIR enables Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) measurement, which assesses vegetation health by identifying plant vigor, chlorophyll concentration, etc. It calculates the difference between NIR light, which healthy vegetation strongly reflects, and visible light, which healthy vegetation absorbs. Other crop analyses it aids include Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI), Leaf Area Index (LAI), etc.

Multiple functional modes

• Global Reset Release (GRR): This mode ensures uniform exposure across the entire pixel array for accurately identifying and classifying different plant species and pests. It eliminates the distortion often caused by partial exposure in traditional sensors.
• Trigger mode: This mode improves the sensor’s adaptability in dynamic environments, such as changing weather conditions or varying light levels throughout the day. It is extremely useful in time-critical applications, like monitoring the rapid spread of pests or diseases in crops.
• Context switching: It allows for seamless transition between different imaging modes, adapting to the changing requirements of precision agriculture. This adaptability is crucial for managing the detection of weeds and bugs in different crop types and stages of growth. Moreover, the ability to switch contexts quickly minimises downtime and maximises monitoring performance across large areas.

e-con Systems’ latest AR2020 sensor-based camera for weed and bug detection

• e-con Systems, with 20+ years of experience in designing, developing, and manufacturing OEM cameras, has been helping modernise traditional agricultural practices with precision imaging solutions.
• e-CAM200_CUMI2020C_MOD is our recently-launched 20MP camera that features the advanced AR2020 sensor, developed for high-resolution imaging in applications such as detecting weeds and bugs. This camera excels in low-light conditions, benefiting from e-con Systems’ extensive experience in Image Signal Processing (ISP) to provide outstanding image quality.