JP2015081808A - Harvest timing determination device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to accurately determine the timing of harvesting a harvest object of a plant.SOLUTION: A harvest timing determination device 10 includes: a first light emission unit 110; a light detection unit 120; and a control unit 130. The first light emission unit 110 projects light onto a harvest object F. The light detection unit 120 detects the light emitted from the first light emission unit 110 through the harvest object F. The control unit 130 determines whether to harvest the harvest object F on the basis of a measurement result of the light detection unit 120.

Description

  The present invention relates to a harvest timing determination device.

  The economic value of a harvested object of a plant such as a fruit greatly depends on the content (for example, sugar content) of a specific component contained in the harvested object. In general, a harvested object in which sugar content is regarded as important is measured for sugar content by near infrared light irradiation and an optical sensor after being harvested.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that a light source is rotated relative to a harvesting target while irradiating the harvesting target with light and spectrally analyzing light transmitted through the harvesting target. It is described that the distribution of sugar content in an object is measured.

JP 2007-24651 A

  As described above, the economic value of a harvested object of a plant such as a fruit greatly depends on the content of a specific component contained in the harvested object. For this reason, the economic value of the harvested object is determined at the timing when the harvested object is harvested. However, in general, the harvest timing of the harvested object is often determined by the farmer based on his own experience. Therefore, there is a possibility that the harvested object is harvested at a timing other than the optimal timing.

  As an example of the problem to be solved by the present invention, it is possible to accurately determine the timing for harvesting a plant harvest target.

The invention according to claim 1 is a first light emitting unit;
A light detection unit for detecting light emitted from the first light emitting unit via a harvesting target;
A control unit for determining whether to harvest the harvest object based on the measurement result of the light detection unit;
Is a harvest timing judging device.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the harvest timing judgment apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the usage method of a harvest timing judgment apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structure of the harvest timing judgment apparatus which concerns on Example 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the data structure of a reference | standard storage part. It is a figure which shows the structure of the harvest timing judgment apparatus which concerns on Example 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the harvest timing judgment apparatus which concerns on Example 3. FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of a control part. It is a figure which shows the structure of the harvest timing judgment apparatus which concerns on Example 3. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the harvest timing judgment apparatus which concerns on Example 4. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the harvest timing judgment apparatus which concerns on Example 5. FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In all the drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same components, and the description will be omitted as appropriate.

  In the following description, each component of each device is not a hardware unit configuration but a functional unit block. Each component of each device is an arbitrary combination of hardware and software, mainly a CPU of a computer, a memory, a program loaded in the memory, a storage medium such as a hard disk for storing the program, and a network connection interface. It is realized by. There are various modifications of the implementation method and apparatus.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a harvest timing determination device 10 according to the embodiment. The harvest timing determination device 10 includes a first light emitting unit 110, a light detection unit 120, and a control unit 130. The first light emitting unit 110 emits light toward the harvested object F. The light detection unit 120 detects the light emitted by the first light emitting unit 110 via the harvest object F. The control unit 130 determines whether or not to harvest the harvest object F based on the measurement result of the light detection unit 120. Details will be described below.

  Examples of the harvest object F used by the harvest timing judgment device 10 include fruits such as melon, watermelon, peach, apple, and mango, but are not limited thereto.

  The first light emitting unit 110 has a light emitting element as a light source. This light emitting element is, for example, a semiconductor laser. The wavelength of the light emitted by the first light emitting unit 110 is a wavelength that is absorbed by a component (hereinafter referred to as a specific component) that determines the harvest timing among the components contained in the harvest target F. The specific component is, for example, sugar, but may be vitamin or lipid. For example, when the specific component is sugar, the wavelength of light emitted by the first light emitting unit 110 is near infrared light. Like a general sugar content sensor, the light source may be a halogen lamp or a broadband LED, and the light detection unit 120 may use a spectroscopic device and a light receiving element. It is also effective to use a light source having a plurality of wavelengths according to the types of fruits having different wavelengths that absorb sugar. For sugar content measurement, as in general technology, analyze the correlation between destructive inspection and near-infrared spectroscopy, generate a calibration curve (prediction formula), and estimate the sugar content of fruits by irradiating light It is possible to perform measurement with higher accuracy.

  The light detection unit 120 receives the light emitted from the first light emitting unit 110 via the harvest target F, and photoelectrically converts the received light. In the example shown in the figure, the light detection unit 120 is provided integrally with the first light emitting unit 110 and detects the light reflected while being absorbed by the harvest object F. However, the light detection unit 120 may be provided on the side opposite to the first light emitting unit 110 via the harvesting target F. In this case, the light detection unit 120 detects light transmitted through the harvesting target F.

  Based on the detection result of the light detection unit 120, the control unit 130 determines whether or not the specific component included in the harvest target F exceeds the reference. For example, the control unit 130 determines whether or not the peak component attributed to the specific component in the light absorption spectrum of the harvest target object F exceeds the reference, whereby the specific component included in the harvest target object F is determined. Determine whether the standard is exceeded. And the control part 130 performs the output (notification process) which shows that the timing which should harvest the harvesting object F is now, when the specific component contained in the harvesting object F exceeds a reference | standard. This output may be performed, for example, by display or lighting of light, or may be performed by sound. You may communicate with the portable terminals (smartphone etc.) which a harvester or an administrator holds, and may notify a portable terminal.

  The harvest timing determination device 10 is, for example, a portable type, but may be a stationary type. In the former case, the first light emitting unit 110, the light detection unit 120, and the control unit 130 may be connected by wire or may be connected wirelessly.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a method of using the harvest timing determination device 10. First, the 1st light emission part 110 and the light detection part 120 are arrange | positioned toward the harvest target F (step S10). Next, the control unit 130 operates the first light emitting unit 110 and the light detection unit 120 (step S20). And the control part 130 determines whether it is a timing which should harvest the harvest target F based on the measurement result of the light detection part 120 (step S30).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the harvest timing determination device 10 measures the concentration of the specific component in the harvest target F before harvesting the harvest target F, and determines whether or not the measurement result satisfies the standard. to decide. Therefore, the user of the harvest timing determination device 10 can accurately determine the harvest timing of the harvest target F.

(Example 1)
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the harvest timing determination device 10 according to the first embodiment. The harvest timing determination apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as the harvest timing determination apparatus 10 according to the embodiment except that a reference storage unit 140 and an input unit 150 are provided.

  The reference storage unit 140 stores standard data of the detection result of the light detection unit 120 at the timing at which the harvest object F should be harvested. Here, the detection result may be raw data obtained by the light detection unit 120 or may be a value after the raw data is analyzed (for example, the concentration of a specific quasi-component).

  Then, the control unit 130 determines whether or not the harvest target F should be harvested by comparing the standard data stored in the reference storage unit 140 with the measurement result by the light detection unit 120. For example, the control unit 130 determines that the harvest object F should be harvested when the concentration of the specific component indicated by the measurement result of the light detection unit 120 is equal to or higher than the concentration of the specific component indicated by the standard data.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the reference storage unit 140 stores standard data for each type of the harvest object F. The input unit 150 acquires information indicating the type of the harvest object F. The controller 130 reads standard data corresponding to the information input to the input unit 150 from the reference storage unit 140 and uses it. The input unit 150 may be, for example, a touch panel, a device that operates a cursor such as a mouse, a keyboard, or a voice input device. When the input unit 150 is a device or a touch panel that operates a cursor, the harvest object F stored in the reference storage unit 140 is displayed in a selectable format on the display unit. Then, the user of the harvest timing determination device 10 selects the type of the harvest object F by operating the touch panel and the cursor. In addition, this selection timing is before the measurement of the harvest target F by the 1st light emission part 110 and the light detection part 120, for example.

  Also according to this embodiment, the user of the harvest timing determination device 10 can accurately determine the harvest timing of the harvest target F. In addition, since the reference storage unit 140 stores the standard data, the user can determine the harvest timing of the harvest target F more accurately. In addition, since the reference storage unit 140 stores standard data of a plurality of types of harvesting objects F, when the harvest timing determination device 10 is used, the user determines the harvesting timing of the plurality of types of harvesting objects F. Can do. Another method for judging the type of harvested object is to identify the type of harvested product by recognizing the output image from a device that captures the target (not shown) and automatically select the optimal conditions for the harvested product. You can also use the method to do.

(Example 2)
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the harvest timing determination device 10 according to the second embodiment. The harvest timing determination apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as the harvest timing determination apparatus 10 according to the embodiment or Example 1 except that the second light emitting unit 160 is provided. This figure shows a case similar to the embodiment. The harvest timing determination apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is used in a plant factory.

  The second light emitting unit 160 irradiates the plant having the harvest target F with light in order to grow the harvest target F. The 2nd light emission part 160 has LED and an organic EL element as a light emitting element, for example. The second light emitting unit 160 may be a broadband LED having a fluorescent material. The color of light emitted by these light emitting elements is a color suitable for growing plants (for photosynthesis) (for example, red: wavelength is, for example, wavelength 600 to 660 nm). However, the wavelength of the light emitted by the second light emitting unit 160 may be variable. In this case, the control unit 130 may change the wavelength of the light emitted by the second light emitting unit 160 according to the growth stage of the plant. Note that the wavelength of light may be variable, or may be a broadband such as a sunlight spectrum.

  The second light emitting unit 160 is controlled by the control unit 130. The control unit 130 controls the second light emitting unit 160 using the detection result of the light detection unit 120 as one of the control parameters. For example, when the content of the specific component in the harvest target F is insufficient in the detection result by the light detection unit 120, the control unit 130 changes the light emission condition of the second light emitting unit 160, for example, increases the light emission. Here, the change of the light emission condition includes a case where the light emission state is changed to the light emission state.

  In addition, the harvest timing determination apparatus 10 includes a condition adjustment unit 170. The condition adjustment unit 170 adjusts the growth conditions (except for the light-related conditions) of the plant having the harvest object F. Here, the growth conditions include at least one of fertilizer, carbon dioxide concentration, oxygen concentration, temperature, humidity, and moisture. The condition adjustment unit 170 is controlled by the control unit 130. When the content of the specific component in the harvest target F is insufficient in the detection result of the light detection unit 120, the control unit 130 changes the light emission condition of the second light emitting unit 160, and the specific component in the harvest target F Increase the rate of concentration increase.

  Also in this example, the same effect as that of the embodiment or Example 1 can be obtained. In addition, when the content of the specific component in the harvest target F is insufficient, the control unit 130 controls at least one of the second light emitting unit 160 and the condition adjustment unit 170 to include the specific component in the harvest target F. Increase the rate of volume increase. Therefore, the harvest timing of the harvest object F can be advanced.

(Example 3)
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the harvest timing determination device 10 according to the third embodiment. The harvest timing determination apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as the harvest timing determination apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment except for the following points.

  First, the plant having the harvest target F is a plant that is also subjected to photosynthesis on the surface of the harvest target F, such as watermelon. Moreover, the 1st light emission part 110, the light detection part 120, and the 2nd light emission part 160 are accommodated in the same package, and are united. A plurality of integrated ones of the first light emitting unit 110, the light detecting unit 120, and the second light emitting unit 160 are arranged so as to surround the harvested object F. The control unit 130 can individually control each of the plurality of first light emitting units 110, each of the plurality of light detection units 120, and each of the plurality of second light emitting units 160. The light detection unit 120 may be provided separately from the first light emitting unit 110 and the second light emitting unit 160. In this case, one light detection unit 120 may be provided for the plurality of first light emitting units 110.

  For this reason, in the present embodiment, the control unit 130 individually operates the plurality of sets of the first light emitting unit 110 and the light detection unit 120 to individually specify the specific component for the plurality of portions of the harvested object F. Concentration can be measured. Moreover, it is possible to individually irradiate a plurality of portions of the harvested object F with light for photosynthesis.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the control unit 130 in this embodiment. The process shown in this figure is performed on the harvested object F whose harvest timing is approaching, for example.

  First, the control unit 130 operates each of the plurality of first light emitting units 110 and analyzes the detection result of the light detection unit 120 corresponding to each first light emitting unit 110, so that the specific component in the harvest object F is analyzed. The density distribution is measured (step S200). Here, the control unit 130 preferably causes the plurality of first light emitting units 110 to emit light at different timings.

  Next, the control unit 130 specifies a portion of the harvested object F in which the concentration of the specific component is less than the reference value (step S202). Next, the control unit 130 includes a plurality of second light emitting units 160 such that the light emission intensity of the second light emitting unit 160 facing the part specified in step S202 is higher than the light emission intensity of the second light emitting unit 160 facing the other part. The light emission conditions of the two light emitting units 160 are individually adjusted. And the control part 130 makes the some 2nd light emission part 160 light-emit (step S204).

  And after a fixed period (for example, 1-2 days) passes, the control part 130 remeasures the density | concentration of the specific component of the part specified by step S202 at least (step S206). And when the density | concentration of the measured specific component is less than a reference value (step S208: No), the control part 130 adjusts at least one of the growth conditions of a plant using the condition adjustment part 170 (step S210). ). Thereafter, the process returns to step S204.

  When the density | concentration of the specific component measured in step S206 has exceeded the reference value (step S208: Yes), the control part 130 performs the process which notifies that the harvest target F exists in the timing which should be harvested (step). S212).

  As described above, this embodiment can provide the same effects as those of the embodiment or the first embodiment. Moreover, it can suppress that the part with a low density | concentration of a specific component arises inside the harvest target F. This effect is particularly great when the harvest object F is large (eg, watermelon or melon). Moreover, the color of the outer surface of the harvested object F can be improved by individually adjusting the light emission conditions of the plurality of second light emitting units 160. In this case, the commercial value of the harvested object F is improved.

  In the present embodiment, the second light emitting unit 160 can be controlled using a control circuit for operating the first light emitting unit 110. In this case, since it is not necessary to add a control circuit for controlling the second light emitting unit 160, the manufacturing cost of the harvest timing determination device 10 can be reduced.

  Further, instead of the first light emitting unit 110 and the second light emitting unit 160, one light emitting unit may be provided. In this case, the light emitted by the light emitting unit includes both a wavelength necessary for functioning as the first light emitting unit 110 and a wavelength necessary for functioning as the second light emitting unit 160.

(Example 3)
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the harvest timing determination device 10 according to the third embodiment. The harvest timing determination apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as the harvest timing determination apparatus 10 according to any of the embodiment and Examples 1 and 2 except for the following points. This figure shows the same case as in the first embodiment.

  First, the harvest timing determination apparatus 10 includes an ID reading unit 180, an ID storage unit 182, and a management data storage unit 190. The ID storage unit 182 is attached to each of the plurality of harvesting objects F, and stores identification information that identifies the harvesting object F to which the ID storage unit 182 is attached from other harvesting objects F. doing. The ID reading unit 180 reads the identification information stored in the ID storage unit 182. Then, the control unit 130 causes the management data storage unit 190 to store data (measurement data) indicating the concentration of the specific component of the harvested object F in association with the read identification information. At this time, the control unit 130 may store the measurement data together with information indicating the measurement date and time. In this case, by using the data stored in the management data storage unit 190, the transition of the specific component in each of the harvested objects F can be grasped.

  Also in this example, the same effects as those of the embodiment and Examples 1 and 2 can be obtained. Moreover, the density | concentration of the specific component in the harvest object F can be managed about each of the some harvest object F. Therefore, when the data stored in the management data storage unit 190 is used, the number of harvested objects F that are expected to be harvested in the near future can be grasped.

Example 4
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the harvest timing determination device 10 according to the fourth embodiment. The harvest timing determination apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as the harvest timing determination apparatus 10 according to the third embodiment except for the following points.

  First, the harvest timing determination apparatus 10 includes the condition adjustment unit 170 illustrated in the second embodiment. In the present embodiment, the condition adjusting unit 170 has a pipe 172 and supply holes 174 and 176 connected to the pipe 172. The pipe 172 branches from the main pipe 171 and extends in a direction parallel to the plant leaf L. The pipe 172 is disposed between each of the plurality of leaves L. The supply holes 174 and 176 are formed in a direction intersecting with the pipe 172. The condition adjustment unit 170 supplies a gas such as carbon dioxide or oxygen to the leaves L.

  The pipe 172 extends through the holding member. A back irradiation unit 162 is attached to the upper surface of the holding member, and a front irradiation unit 164 is attached to the lower surface of the holding member. The back surface irradiation unit 162 and the front surface irradiation unit 164 are at least a part of the second light emitting unit 160. The back surface irradiation unit 162 irradiates the back surface of the leaf L with light, and the front surface irradiation unit 164 irradiates the surface of the leaf L with light.

  The control unit 130 can control the supply of carbon dioxide from the supply holes 174 and 176 to the leaves L independently of each other. Further, the control unit 130 can independently control the supply of carbon dioxide to each of the plurality of leaves L. In order to do this, for example, the supply hole 174 and the supply hole 176 are connected to different pipes 172, and the supply hole 174 (or the supply hole) located closest to the main pipe 171 among these pipes 172. 176) and the main pipe 171 may be provided with a valve so that the control unit 130 can control the valve. Such control can also be performed when each of the supply holes 174 and 176 has a valve that can be controlled by the control unit 130.

  And in order to increase the amount of photosynthesis in the leaf L located near the harvest target F where the concentration of the specific component is low, the control unit 130 and the surface irradiation unit 164 located on the leaf L and its The light emission condition of the back surface irradiation unit 162 located under the leaf L is controlled. Further, the amount of carbon dioxide supplied to the leaf L is increased.

  In the management data storage unit 190, the identification information of the harvest object F, the back surface irradiation unit 162, the front surface irradiation unit 164, and the supply holes 174, 176 corresponding to the leaves L located near the harvest object F are stored. Are stored in association with each other. Using this information, the control unit 130 recognizes the back surface irradiation unit 162 and the front surface irradiation unit 164 whose light emission conditions are to be controlled, and recognizes supply holes 174 and 176 whose carbon dioxide supply amount is to be increased.

  According to the present embodiment, the same effect as that of the third embodiment can be obtained. Further, the amount of photosynthesis can be increased in the leaves L located near the harvest object F where the concentration of the specific component is low. Therefore, the concentration of the specific component in the harvest object F can be increased before harvesting.

(Example 5)
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the harvest timing determination device 10 according to the fifth embodiment. The harvest timing determination device 10 according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as the harvest timing determination device 10 according to the third embodiment except for the following points.

  First, the light detection unit 120 is housed in a package different from the first light emitting unit 110 and the second light emitting unit 160. And the number of the light detection parts 120 located around the harvest object F is smaller than the number of the 1st light emission parts 110. FIG. In the example shown in the drawing, a plurality of first light emitting units 110 and second light emitting units 160 are provided so as to surround the periphery of the harvested object F. Only one light detection unit 120 is provided.

  According to this embodiment, the same effect as that of the third embodiment can be obtained. Moreover, since the number of the light detection parts 120 can be made smaller than the number of the 1st light emission parts 110, the manufacturing cost of the harvest timing judgment apparatus 10 can be made low.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment and the Example were described with reference to drawings, these are illustrations of this invention and can also employ | adopt various structures other than the above.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Harvest timing judgment apparatus 110 1st light emission part 120 Light detection part 130 Control part 140 Reference | standard memory | storage part 160 2nd light emission part 170 Condition adjustment part

Claims (6)

A first light emitting unit;
A light detection unit for detecting light emitted from the first light emitting unit via a harvesting target;
A control unit for determining whether to harvest the harvest object based on the measurement result of the light detection unit;
Harvest timing judgment device comprising: In the harvest timing judgment device according to claim 1,
A reference storage unit for storing standard data of measurement results of the light detection unit at a timing to harvest the harvest object;
The said control part is the harvest timing judgment apparatus which judges whether the said harvest target should be harvested using the said standard data which the said reference | standard memory | storage part memorize | stored, and the measurement result of the said optical detection part. In the harvest timing judgment device according to claim 2,
The reference storage unit stores the standard data for each type of harvest object,
The said control part is the harvest timing judgment apparatus which acquires the information which shows the kind of said harvest object, and reads the said standard data corresponding to the acquired information from the said reference | standard memory | storage part. In the harvest timing judgment device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A condition adjusting unit for adjusting the growth conditions of the plant having the harvest object;
The said control part is the harvest timing judgment apparatus which controls the said condition adjustment part based on the detection result of a photon detection part. In the harvest timing judging device according to claim 4,
The growth condition is light quantity,
The said condition adjustment part is a harvest timing judgment apparatus which has a 2nd light emission part which irradiates light to the said plant. In the harvest timing judgment device according to claim 5,
The second light emitting unit irradiates light individually to a plurality of parts of the harvest object,
The first light emitting unit irradiates a plurality of parts individually with light to the harvest object,
The light detection unit individually detects each of the individually irradiated light,
The control unit determines a concentration of a specific component in each of the plurality of portions based on the detection result, and controls the second light emitting unit based on the determination result.

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