AU2020103176A4

AU2020103176A4 - Detection apparatus and method for suspension and enrichment of airborne crop disease spores

Info

Publication number: AU2020103176A4
Application number: AU2020103176A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Hanping MAO; Chen PAN; Fangyu SHU; Ning Yang; Minfeng YUAN; Tianwei Zhang
Original assignee: Jiangsu University
Current assignee: Jiangsu University
Priority date: 2020-11-02
Filing date: 2020-11-02
Publication date: 2021-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 2028-11-02

Abstract

Disclosed are a detection apparatus and method for suspension and enrichment of airborne crop disease spores. A power module is arranged at the bottom of a hot-air balloon. The power module is connected to a controller, and the bottom of the controller is fixedly connected to a spore catcher. A flying device is fixed by the spore catcher. A microfluidic lens, a monitoring and forecasting platform, a locating device, an auxiliary fan and an air box are arranged in sequence from top to bottom within the spore catcher. The monitoring and forecasting platform is arranged transversely and horizontally and one side thereof is connected to a propelling device which is capable of driving the monitoring and forecasting platform to move transversely and horizontally. The controller includes a processor, a Global Positioning System (GPS) module, an electronic compass and a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), and the processor is further connected to and controls turbo-fans, the auxiliary fan, the microfluidic lens, a direct-current power source, the power module and the propelling device separately. The hot-air balloon suspends at low and medium altitudes, identifies an air inlet corresponding to a direction where spores come from according to the recognized quantity of crop disease spores caught in a particular area, and performs data fusion of the identified air inlet and the geographic information from the GPS and the electronic compass so as to estimate a route of dissemination of the crop disease spores. 1/3 1 4 5 27 FIG. 1 4 28 20FI. FIG. 2

Description

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DETECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SUSPENSION AND ENRICHMENT OF AIRBORNE CROP DISEASE SPORES TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to an apparatus for catching and detecting airborne crop disease spores, and in particular, to an apparatus which is capable of catching suspended spores in a dissemination stage when spores are not yet disseminated to crop areas, so that crop diseases can be prevented and controlled earlier.

BACKGROUND

Crop disease spores are typically disseminated by air together with dust particles, while dissemination by air is one of the major routes of dissemination. Existing spore catchers basically operate on the ground, and the crop disease spores moving together with dust particles at high altitudes cannot be caught. Moreover, the spores are caught in the infection stage and onset stage of spores, which are late. If the crop disease spores in the route of dissemination are caught and recognized in the dissemination stage when the spores are not yet disseminated to crop areas, workers will be allowed to have more time to develop related prevention and control measures, thereby greatly reducing areas with crop diseases.

Chinese invention patent application No. 201720032291.1 provides a spore monitoring micro-imaging cloud control system. The system comprises a monitoring and forecasting platform, a slide, a microscope, an adjusting motor, an adjusting lead screw, an adjusting slider and a limiting switch. The slide is pushed by the adjusting motor to an operating position of micro-imaging, and an image is captured while the focal length of the microscope is adjusted by the adjusting motor. Next, the captured image is transmitted to a microprocessor for resolution analysis of the image. Finally, filtered images are uploaded to the cloud background as backups. However, the system can only identify the type of spores, and the obtained spore information does not include the source of a spore dissemination direction, so an approximate area of spore pathogens cannot be estimated. Furthermore, since the geographic location of the system is restricted, detection sites cannot be changed freely.

Compared with the prior art, the disclosure has the following advantages:

1. According to the disclosure, the spore catcher and other components are mounted below the hot-air balloon which suspends at low and medium altitudes; the influence on the detection effect caused by suction of excessive impurities into the spore catcher can be avoided, and spreading disease spores can be caught.

2. According to the disclosure, the hot-air balloon and the flying device with four wings are used cooperatively; and the vertical space is used fully, so that the detection is out of restriction of regions and the number of required apparatuses in the same range can be reduced.

3. A specially designed monitoring and forecasting platform is employed in the disclosure, which can identify an air inlet corresponding to a direction where spores come from according to the recognized quantity of crop disease spores caught in a particular area, and then perform data fusion of the identified air inlet and the geographic information from the GPS and the electronic compass so as to estimate a route of dissemination of the crop disease spores. As a result, suspended spores can be caught in the dissemination stage when the spores are not yet disseminated to crop areas, and crop diseases can be prevented and controlled early.

4. A microfluidic lens module is employed in the disclosure; and therefore, the problem of great difficulty in automatic focusing due to excessive lens assemblies of traditional microlenses can be avoided and the size of the micro-imaging system can be greatly reduced.

SUMMARY

According to one example embodiment there is provided a detection apparatus for suspension and enrichment of airborne crop disease spores provided in the disclosure is implemented according to the following technical solution: the detection apparatus comprises a hot-air balloon, a controller, a flying device and a spore catcher. A power module is arranged at the bottom of the hot-air balloon and connected to the controller; the bottom of the controller is fixedly connected to the spore catcher; the flying device is fixed by the spore catcher, and a microfluidic lens, a monitoring and forecasting platform, a locating device, an auxiliary fan and an air box are arranged in sequence from top to bottom within the spore catcher; the monitoring and forecasting platform is arranged transversely and horizontally and one side thereof is connected to a propelling device which is capable of driving the monitoring and forecasting platform to move transversely and horizontally; four air outlets are formed in the middle of the top of the air box and air inlets are formed in the bottoms of four sidewalls thereof, respectively; an air channel is connected between each air inlet and one air outlet; the auxiliary fan is right above the air outlets; the flying device has four turbo-fans, every two of which form a group and are arranged diagonally; the monitoring and forecasting platform comprises a platform surface and slides; a plurality of slides and a plurality of locating holes are distributed transversely on the platform surface; the locating device comprises a locating plate, a locating block, an electromagnet, a direct-current power source and a glass block; air holes penetrating up and down are formed in the middle of the locating plate, and one slide is right above the air holes; the glass block is right above the electromagnet, and the locating block made of a magnetic material is placed right above the glass block; in addition, the locating block is capable of extending upwards into the locating hole; the controller includes a processor, a GPS (Global Positioning System) module, an electronic compass and a Digital Signal Processor (DSP ); the processor is further connected to and controls the turbo-fans, the auxiliary fan, the microfluidic lens, the direct current power source, the power module and the propelling device separately.

According to one example embodiment there is provided a method by using the detection apparatus for suspension and enrichment of airborne crop disease spores provided in the disclosure is implemented according to the following technical solution: the detection method includes the following steps:

step A, controlling, by the processor, the power module to ignite, so that the hot-air balloon drives the flying device and the spore catcher to leave the ground, and controlling, by the processor, the turbo-fans to operate to adjust a flight direction according to preset coordinates on the GPS module;

step B, controlling, by the processor, the auxiliary fan to operate and the direct-current power source to electrify the electromagnet, so that the locating block is ejected upwards to limit the monitoring and forecasting platform and spore-carrying external air moves up through the air channels into the air holes which are located right under the first slide; and

step C, capturing, by the microfluidic lens, an image through the first slide, and transmitting the image to the DSP for processing before sending to the processor.

Further, after the step C, the processor controls the auxiliary fan to stop and switches off the direct-current power source, so that the locating block drops out of the locating hole; the propelling device is controlled to operate to drive the monitoring and forecasting platform to move a preset distance transversely and horizontally before stopping, so that the second slide is located right above the air holes, and then the direct-current power source is switched on, allowing the microfluidic lens to capture an image through the second slide; and multiple times of detection are completed by repetition in this way.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an overall structure of a detection apparatus for suspension and enrichment of airborne crop disease spores according to an example of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged overhead structure view of a flying device 4 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of an internal structure of a spore catcher 5 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged overhead structure view of a monitoring and forecasting platform 7 and a propelling device 9 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged right structure view of the monitoring and forecasting platform 7 and a locating device 10 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a control block diagram of FIG. 1.

In the drawings, the reference numerals and names of different components are as follows: 1 hot-air balloon, 2-power module, 3-controller, 4-flying device, 5, spore catcher, 6-microfluidic lens, 7-monitoring and forecasting platform, 8-auxiliary fan, 9-propelling device, 10-locating device, 11-metal screen, 12-slide, 13-motor, 14-locating block, 15-electromagnet, 16-direct current power source, 17-glass block, 18-driving shaft, 19-driving gear, 20-driven gear, 21 adjusting lead screw, 22-platform surface, 23-air hole, 24-locating hole, 25-turbo-fan, 26-hollow partition plate, 27-holder, 28-acrylic plate, 29-air box, 30-air inlet, 31-air channel, 32-air outlet, 33-light passing hole, and 34-locating plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a detection apparatus for suspension and enrichment of airborne crop disease spores provided in the disclosure comprises a hot-air balloon 1, a controller 3, a flying device 4 and a spore catcher 5. The hot-air balloon 1 is located on top. The cover of the hot-air balloon 1 is made of reinforced nylon, and a large opening is formed in the bottom for injection of heated air. A power module 2 is arranged at the bottom of the hot-air balloon 1, and the power module 2 is suspended below the cover with a nylon rope and capable of heating air and injecting the air into the hot-air balloon 1, thereby providing fuel gas energy for the hot-air balloon 1 to rise. The controller 3 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the power module 2 by using a screw, and the function of the controller 3 is to control the operation of the whole detection apparatus. The spore catcher 5 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the controller 3 by using a screw; a square holder 27 is arranged outside the spore catcher 5; the flying device 4 is fixedly connected to the holder 27 by means of a screw and a nut; and the function of the flying device 4 is to provide the whole detection apparatus with power for moving forward and turning.

After the power module 2 injects the heated air into the hot-air balloon 1, the hot-air balloon 1 rises together with the controller 3, the flying device 4 and the spore catcher 5. The controller 3 controls the flying device 4 to adjust the flight trajectory of the hot-air balloon 1. The spore catcher 5 starts the collection and monitoring of spores according to a preset operating mode upon receiving a control signal from the controller 3.

Referring to FIG. 2, the flying device 4 has a square acrylic plate 28 which is arranged transversely and horizontally. A square through hole is formed in the middle of the acrylic plate 28 and fixedly sleeves the square holder 27. A diagonal line of the acrylic plate 28 forms an included angle of 45 degrees with a diagonal line of the holder 27 in the horizontal plane. Turbo fans 25 each capable of rotating about a single axis are mounted at four corners of the acrylic plate 28, and central axes of the turbo-fans 25 are perpendicular to each other up and down. Two turbo-fans 25 of the four turbo-fans 25 that are located in a diagonal line form an operating group, and provide power for moving forward and power for deflecting, respectively. With the transverse horizontal plane of the acrylic plate 28 as a reference plane of 0 degree, an operating angle of each turbo-fan 25 ranges from -90 degrees to 90 degrees.

Referring to FIG. 3, a microfluidic lens 6, a monitoring and forecasting platform 7, a locating device 10, an auxiliary fan 8 and an air box 29 are arranged in sequence from top to bottom within the spore catcher 5. The microfluidic lens 6 is commercially available and fixed to the holder 27 by using a screw. The monitoring and forecasting platform 7 below the microfluidic lens 6 is arranged transversely and horizontally. One side of the monitoring and forecasting platform 7 is connected to a propelling device 9 which is arranged transversely and horizontally, and the propelling device 9 is fixedly connected to the holder 27. Besides, the propelling device 9 and the monitoring and forecasting platform 7 are located in the same horizontal plane, and the propelling device 9 drives the monitoring and forecasting platform 7 to move back and forth in the same horizontal plane. The locating device 10 below the monitoring and forecasting platform 7 is fixedly connected above a hollow partition plate 26 which is arranged transversely and horizontally, and one side of the hollow partition plate 26 is fixedly connected to the holder 27. The auxiliary fan 8 is arranged below the locating device 10 and fixedly embedded in the hollow partition plate 26. The square air box 29 is arranged right under the auxiliary fan 8. Four air outlets 32 are formed in the middle of the top of the air box 29. Air inlets 30 are formed in the bottoms of four sidewalls of the air box 29, respectively. Each air inlet 30 is covered with a metal screen 11 to prevent large-particle impurities from entering the air box 29. An air channel 31 is connected between each air inlet 30 and one air outlet 32, and each air channel 31 bends upwards within the air box 29 to be connected with the corresponding air outlet 32. The auxiliary fan 8 is arranged right above the air outlets 32.

Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 3, the propelling device 9 is fixedly connected to the holder 27. The propelling device 9 comprises a motor 13, a driving shaft 18, a driving gear 19, driven gears , and adjusting lead screws 21. An output shaft of the motor 13 drives the driving gear 19 to rotate. The driving gear 19 coaxially sleeves the driving shaft 18. Two ends of the driving shaft 18 are fixedly connected to the driven gears 20. The driven gears 20 are further fixedly connected to one ends of the adjusting lead screws 21 that are arranged transversely, and the other ends of the transversely arranged adjusting lead screws 21 are connected to the monitoring and forecasting platform 7. When the motor 13 rotates, the driving shaft 18 and the driving gear 19 fixed to the driving shaft 18 are driven to rotate together, and meanwhile, the adjusting lead screws 21 are driven by the driven gears 20 located at the two ends of the driving shaft 18 to rotate simultaneously. Thus, the monitoring and forecasting platform 7 is driven by the adjusting lead screws 21 to move transversely and horizontally.

The monitoring and forecasting platform 7 comprises a platform surface 22 and slides 12. The platform surface 22 is connected to the adjusting lead screws 21 of the propelling device 9 through threaded holes. A plurality of slides 12 and a plurality of locating holes 24 are distributed transversely and uniformly on the platform surface 22. The slides 12 are fixedly connected to the platform surface 22. There are two locating holes 24 by the side of each slide 12, and the two locating holes 24 are arranged symmetrically about the center of the slide 12. Four light passing holes 33 are formed in each slide 12. The other region of each slide 12 than the four light passing holes 33 is covered with a shading coating, and only the circular regions of the four light passing holes 33 are left to allow light to pass therethrough. The number of the slides 12 can be 4 to 10 in the disclosure.

When a slide 12 is located in an operating position, the four light passing holes 33 of the slide 12 are distributed the same as the four air outlets 32 in FIG. 3, which are the same in diameter and directly face one another up and down. The four air outlets 32 are right under the four light passing holes 33.

Referring to FIG. 5, the locating device 10 below the monitoring and forecasting platform 7 comprises a locating plate 34, locating blocks 14, electromagnets 15, direct-current power sources 16 and glass blocks 17. Air holes 23 penetrating up and down are formed in the middle of the locating plate 34. In the operating position, there is a slide 12 in FIG. 4 right above the air holes 23, that is, the air holes directly face the slide 12, and the microfluidic lens 6 is right above the slide 12. One electromagnet 15 is arranged on each of two sides of the air holes 23. There is a glass block 17 right above each electromagnet 15, and one locating block 14 made of a magnetic material is placed right above the glass block 17. The glass blocks 17 serve for carrying and isolation. The locating blocks 14 extend upwards out of the locating plate 34, which exactly coordinate with the locating holes 24 in FIG. 4 and can extend into the locating holes 24. Each electromagnet 15 is connected to a direct-current power source 16 through a power wire.

Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 1, the controller 3 is supplied with power by a power circuit. The controller 3 includes a processor, a GPS (Global Positioning System) module, an electronic compass and a Digital Signal Processor (DSP ), etc. The processor is connected to the GPS module, the electronic compass and the DSP separately. The processor is further connected to and controls the turbo-fans 25, the auxiliary fan 8, the microfluidic lens 6, the direct-current power sources 16, the power module 2 and the motor 13 separately. The power circuit serves to supply power to the whole detection apparatus.

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 6, when the detection apparatus for suspension and enrichment of airborne crop disease spores provided in the disclosure operates, firstly, the processor in the controller 3 controls the power module 2 to ignite by means of a signal wire, so that the air in the hot-air balloon 1 is heated. As a result, the density of the air decreases and the lift of the hot-air balloon 1 increases, thereby driving the flying device 4 and the spore catcher 5 to leave the ground.

The processor sends a control signal to the turbo-fans 25 according to preset coordinates on GPS, causing one group of turbo-fans 25 serving to provide power for deflecting to adjust a flight direction and the other group of turbo-fans 25 serving to provide power for moving forward to switch to the operating mode. Meanwhile, the processor reads the current position coordinates from the GPS and compares the read coordinates with the preset coordinates. After reaching the position of the preset coordinates, the processor sends a control signal to the turbo-fans 25, causing them to switch to a standby mode.

The processor controls the auxiliary fan 8 to operate by means of the signal wire and then controls the direct-current power sources 16 to electrify the electromagnets 15. The electrified electromagnets 15 generate magnetic field force, so that the locating blocks 14 are ejected upwards under the action of the magnetic force and thus suspended in the locating holes 24. As a result, the transverse horizontal movement of the monitoring and forecasting platform 7 is limited, so that the motor 13 cannot drive the monitoring and forecasting platform 7 to move. Under the action of the auxiliary fan 8, spore-carrying external air moves up through the air channels 31 into the air holes 23. In this case, the air holes 23 are located right under the first slide 12, while the locating blocks 14 are exactly locked in the two locating holes 24 by the side of the first slide 12 and the microfluidic lens 6 is right above the first slide 12.

The processor sends a control signal to the microfluidic lens 6 to control zooming and focusing thereof. The microfluidic lens 6 captures images through the first slide 12 and transmits current images to the DSP for processing at intervals of a period of time, and the processing results are then sent to the processor. The processing results include a result where the most spores are present. Meanwhile, the processor reads the current coordinates and magnetic field direction from the GPS and the electronic compass. The GPS module and the electronic compass can achieve data fusion with the information collected through the slide 12 to estimate a route of dissemination of the caught disease spores. The three kinds of information are subjected to real time data fusion, so that the route of dissemination of the disease spores can be estimated. Besides, the result is recorded and the first detection is completed.

Subsequently, the processor controls the auxiliary fan 8 to stop operating and switches off the direct-current power sources 16. After the electromagnets 15 are powered off, the locating blocks 14 drop out of the locating holes 24. In this case, the processor controls the motor 13 to rotate to drive the monitoring and forecasting platform 7 to move a preset distance transversely and horizontally before stopping, and the second slide 12 is then right above the air holes 23. Next, the direct-current power sources 16 are switched on immediately, so that the locating blocks 14 are ejected upwards into the two locating holes 24 by the side of the second slide 12, and then the microfluidic lens 6 captures images through the second slide 12. Thus, the controller 3 completes the second detection. The above procedures are repeated in this way until multiple times of detection are completed.

The foregoing descriptions are merely preferred specific implementations of the disclosure, but the protection scope of the disclosure is not limited thereto. Equivalent replacements or changes made by any person skilled in art according to the technical solutions and conception of the disclosure within the technical scope disclosed in the disclosure should fall within the protection scope of the disclosure.

It is acknowledged that the terms "comprise", "comprises" and "comprising" may, under varying jurisdictions, be attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this specification, and unless otherwise noted, these terms are intended to have an inclusive meaning - i.e., they will be taken to mean an inclusion of the listed components which the use directly references, and possibly also of other non-specified components or elements.

Reference to any document in this specification does not constitute an admission that it is prior art, validly combinable with other documents or that it forms part of the common general knowledge.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A detection apparatus for suspension and enrichment of airborne crop disease spores,

comprising a hot-air balloon, a controller, a flying device and a spore catcher, wherein a power module is arranged at the bottom of the hot-air balloon and connected to the controller; the

bottom of the controller is fixedly connected to the spore catcher; the spore catcher is connected

to the flying device, and a microfluidic lens, a monitoring and forecasting platform, a locating device, an auxiliary fan and an air box are arranged in sequence from top to bottom within the

spore catcher; the monitoring and forecasting platform is arranged transversely and horizontally

and one side thereof is connected to a propelling device which is capable of driving the monitoring and forecasting platform to move transversely and horizontally; four air outlets are

formed in the middle of the top of the air box and air inlets are formed in the bottoms of four

sidewalls thereof, respectively; an air channel is connected between each air inlet and one air outlet; the auxiliary fan is right above the air outlets; the flying device has four turbo-fans, every

two of which form a group and are arranged diagonally; the monitoring and forecasting platform

comprises a platform surface and slides; a plurality of slides and a plurality of locating holes are distributed transversely on the platform surface; the locating device comprises a locating plate, a

locating block, an electromagnet, a direct-current power source and a glass block; air holes

penetrating up and down are formed in the middle of the locating plate, and one slide is right above the air holes; the glass block is right above the electromagnet, and the locating block made

of a magnetic material is placed right above the glass block; in addition, the locating block is

capable of extending upwards into the locating hole; the controller comprises a processor, a GPS (Global Positioning System) module, an electronic compass and a Digital Signal Processor

(DSP ); the processor is further connected to and controls the turbo-fans, the auxiliary fan, the

microfluidic lens, the direct-current power source, the power module and the propelling device separately.

2. The detection apparatus for suspension and enrichment of airborne crop disease spores according to claim 1, wherein the propelling device comprises a motor, a driving shaft, a driving

gear, driven gears and adjusting lead screws; an output shaft of the motor drives the driving gear

to rotate; the driving gear coaxially sleeves the driving shaft; two ends of the driving shaft are fixedly connected to the driven gears; the driven gears are further fixedly connected to one ends

of the adjusting lead screws that are arranged transversely, and the other ends of the transversely

arranged adjusting lead screws are connected to the monitoring and forecasting platform; and the motor is capable of rotating to drive the monitoring and forecasting platform to move transversely.

3. The detection apparatus for suspension and enrichment of airborne crop disease spores according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a square holder is arranged outside the spore catcher; the holder is fixedly connected to the flying device; the flying device has a square acrylic plate which is arranged transversely and horizontally; a square through hole is formed in the middle of the acrylic plate and fixedly sleeves the holder; a diagonal line of the acrylic plate forms an included angle of 45 degrees with a diagonal line of the holder in a horizontal plane; the turbo-fans each capable of rotating about a single axis are mounted at four corners of the acrylic plate, and central axes of the turbo-fans are perpendicular to each other up and down; and two turbo-fans that are located in a diagonal line form a group, and provide power for moving forward and power for deflecting, respectively.

4. The detection apparatus for suspension and enrichment of airborne crop disease spores according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein four light passing holes are formed in each slide, and other region of the slide than the four light passing holes is covered with a shading coating;

wherein in an operating position, the four light passing holes of the slide directly face the four air outlets in position;

wherein the locating device is fixedly connected above a hollow partition plate which is arranged transversely and horizontally, and the auxiliary fan is fixedly embedded in the hollow partition plate.

5. A detection method by using the detection apparatus for suspension and enrichment of airborne crop disease spores according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising the following steps:

step C, capturing, by the microfluidic lens, an image through the first slide, and transmitting the image to the DSP for processing before sending to the processor; wherein after the step C, the processor controls the auxiliary fan to stop and switches off the direct-current power source, so that the locating block drops out of the locating hole; the propelling device is controlled to operate to drive the monitoring and forecasting platform to move a preset distance transversely and horizontally before stopping, so that the second slide is located right above the air holes, and then the direct-current power source is switched on, allowing the microfluidic lens to capture an image through the second slide; and multiple times of detection are completed by repetition in this way.