JPH07123864A - Measure/control unit for plant community status - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a measure and control unit designed to control at low cost the status of a wider range of plant community by assuredly and accurately catching the change in the status. CONSTITUTION:The objective measure control unit equipped with (A) a ridge 2 or bed 2 having a horizontally linear stretch to raise a plant and plant community, (B) a guide rail 10 keeping a specified interval perpendicularly from the ridge 2 or bed 2 and set up nearly horizontally, (C) a sensor 11 set on the guide rail 10 and to measure the distance between itself and the plant and plant community, and (D) a means to move the sensor 11 along the guide rail 10.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a plant community morphology for controlling the operation of a control device that detects changes in the morphology of plants and plant communities to control the environment that affects the growth of the morphology of plants and plant communities. The measurement and control system for measuring plant morphology, which is particularly low-priced so that it can reliably and accurately capture and control morphological changes in a wider range of plant communities.
The present invention relates to a control device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, measurement and control of plant community morphology, which detects changes in the morphology of plants and plant communities and controls the operation of control devices that control the environment that affects the growth of the morphology of plants and plant communities. Devices have been widely used.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a plant community morphology measurement / control apparatus that captures the morphology of this type of plant community as an image.

In FIG. 3, plants and plant communities 1 are
Horizontal ridges or beds 2
Is grown in.

On the other hand, the plant community 3 captured by the video camera 3
Since the image information 4 of 4 is an analog signal of frequency, it cannot be input to the computer 5 as it is. Therefore,
The image information 4 of the plant community 3 is converted into a digital signal by a signal converter called a digitizer 6 and input to the computer 5.

In this case, the converted digital image information 4 becomes an enormous amount of information, and it is a great amount of calculation to extract a specific change such as a change in the form of the plant community 1 from the image information 4 as it is. turn into.

Therefore, the image processing software 7 in the computer 5 controls the digitizer 6 to divide the image information 4 into a specific color (for example, green) and other colors (binarization) and the like. The information 4 is simplified, and the simplified signal is used as a trigger to output the operation signal 9 to the control device 8 for controlling the environment related to the growth of the plant and the plant community 1, for example, the sprinkler. .

[0008] By the way, the above-mentioned measuring and controlling apparatus for plant community using image information cannot measure the distance. Therefore, the change of the extracted color or subtle morphology is captured and the control of the control device 8 is triggered. I am trying. for that reason,
When trying to capture the entire plant community 1, it cannot be distinguished because it overlaps and image processing in a wide range cannot be performed easily, so in the end, one plant is extracted and the plant community can be extracted from that information. Inevitably, the whole control of No. 1 is performed and the accuracy is poor.

Also, the digitizer 6 for image processing and the analysis software 7 are expensive, and it is not very practical to control the morphological information of the plant community 1 by capturing it in the community range.

[0010]

As described above, in the conventional plant community morphology measuring and controlling apparatus, not only is it expensive, but morphological changes of a wide range of plant communities can be reliably and accurately detected and controlled. There was a problem that I could not do it.

An object of the present invention is to provide an extremely highly reliable plant community morphology measuring and controlling apparatus capable of reliably and accurately grasping and controlling morphological changes of a wider range of plant communities at a low price. To provide.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, first of all, a measuring and controlling apparatus of a plant community form of the invention corresponding to claim 1 has a linear expansion in a horizontal direction,
A ridge or bed for growing plants and plant communities, a guide rail that is installed at a certain distance in the vertical direction from the ridge or bed, and is installed substantially parallel to the horizontal direction, and is installed on the guide rail. And a measuring sensor for measuring the distance between the measuring plant and the plant community, and a moving means for moving the measuring sensor along the guide rail.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plant community type measuring / controlling apparatus, wherein the plant community type measuring / controlling apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention uses a distance signal output from a length measuring sensor. An analog / digital conversion means for inputting and analog / digital converting the input signal and a distance signal output from the analog / digital conversion means are taken in, and the distance is calculated from the distance from the length measuring sensor to the ridge or bed. And a calculation processing means for subtracting the data of the size of the plant and the plant community in a certain direction.

Further, the plant community type measuring / controlling apparatus of the invention according to claim 3 is the plant community type measuring / controlling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distance signal output from the length measuring sensor is used. Input and input the input signal analog /
The analog / digital conversion means for digital conversion and the distance signal output from the analog / digital conversion means are taken in, and the distance is subtracted from the distance between the length measuring sensor and the ridge or bed, so that there are plants and plant communities. A function to calculate the size data in the direction, and a horizontal sensor obtained by arranging the length measuring sensor vertically above the top of the plant stem and moving the length measuring sensor substantially parallel to the ridge or bed direction. Arithmetic processing means having a function of calculating outer shape data on a vertical cross section where plants and plant communities are present based on the moving distance and the vertical height data.

Furthermore, a plant community type measurement / control device according to a fourth aspect of the invention is the plant community type measurement / control device according to claim 1, wherein the distance signal output from the length measuring sensor is used. And analog / digital conversion means for analog / digital converting the input signal,
The distance signal output from the analog / digital conversion means is fetched, and the distance is subtracted from the distance between the length measuring sensor and the ridge or bed to calculate the size data of the plant and the plant community in a certain direction. Function, length measurement sensor is arranged vertically above the stem apex of the plant, and the horizontal movement distance and vertical height data required by moving the length measurement sensor almost parallel to the ridge or bed direction are obtained. Based on the function to calculate the outline data in the vertical cross section with plants and plant communities, and the outline data in the vertical cross section with plants and plant communities are taken in according to a certain cycle or certain information, and the plant and plant communities at that time When comparing the external shape data in a certain vertical section with the previous or past external shape data, if an abnormal change in the morphology of plants and plant communities is detected, Formed by adding an arithmetic processing means having a function of controlling the operation of a control device for controlling the influence environment for the growth of plants and plant communities the information as a trigger.

[0016]

Therefore, in the plant community morphology measuring / controlling apparatus of the present invention, the length measuring sensor and the arithmetic processing means (computer), which are less expensive than conventional digitizers for image processing, are used, When the contour data of a plant in a cross section with a plant community is created and collected over time, and an unusual change in the contour data of this plant (other than the change due to normal growth) is captured, the plant is triggered by the change. By controlling the control device that controls the environment around the community, it is possible to capture the morphological changes of a wider plant community reliably and accurately at a lower cost than the conventional measurement and control device that applies image processing. Therefore, a more practical plant community measurement / control device can be constructed.

[0017]

EXAMPLES In the present invention, a length measuring sensor for measuring length using laser light or ultrasonic waves is moved horizontally or vertically at a constant distance (height) from plants and plant communities, The distance signal is taken into the arithmetic processing means (computer), the outline data of the plant in the cross section where the plant and the plant community are present is calculated from this distance signal, the outline data of the plant is collected with time, and the outline data of the outline data is calculated. When an abnormal change (other than a change due to normal growth) is captured, the change is used as a trigger to control the operation of the control device that controls the environment around the plant community.

An embodiment of the present invention based on the above concept will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the structure of a plant community measuring / controlling apparatus according to the present invention, and the same elements as those in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the plant-community-form measuring and controlling apparatus of this embodiment has a ridge or bed 2 which has a linear spread in the horizontal direction and which grows plants and plant communities 1. , A guide rail 10 that is installed in the ridge or bed 1 at a constant interval in the vertical direction and is substantially parallel to the horizontal direction, and is installed on the guide rail 10.
Length measuring sensor 11 for measuring the distance between the length measuring sensor main body and the plant or plant community 1 using laser light or ultrasonic waves
A driving machine 12 such as a motor which is a moving means for moving the length measuring sensor 11 along the guide rail 10, a moving means 13 for moving the guide rail 10 itself, and a distance signal 14 output from the length measuring sensor 11. And an analog / digital converter (hereinafter referred to as an A / D converter) 15 for analog-to-digital conversion of this input signal, and a computer 16 as an arithmetic processing means.

Here, the computer 16 has the following functions.

(A) The distance signal 14 output from the A / D converter 15 is taken in, and the distance is subtracted from the distance between the length measuring sensor 11 and the ridge or bed 2 to obtain the plant and plant community 1. A function to calculate the size data in a certain direction.

(B) A horizontal movement distance obtained by arranging the length measuring sensor 11 vertically above the stem top of the plant and moving the length measuring sensor 11 substantially parallel to the ridge or bed 2 direction. A function to calculate the outer shape data in the vertical cross section where plants and plant communities 1 are based on the vertical height data.

(C) The contour data of a vertical cross section of a plant and a plant community 1 is taken in according to a certain period or certain information, and the contour data of the vertical cross section of a plant and a plant community 1 at that time and previous or past contours. When the data and the abnormal change in the morphology of the plant and the plant community 1 are detected, the information is used as a trigger to control the environment that affects the growth of the plant and the plant community 1 A function that controls the operation of the machine.

Next, the operation of the measuring / controlling apparatus of the plant community form of the present embodiment constructed as described above will be explained.

In FIG. 1, the length measuring sensor 11 measures the distance from the main body of the length measuring sensor 11 to the plant and the plant community 1, and outputs a distance signal 14 to the A / D converter 15.
The A / D converter 15 converts the input analog signal distance signal 14 into a digital signal, and the computer 1
Output to 6.

On the other hand, in the computer 16, by subtracting the input distance signal 14 from the distance from the length measuring sensor 11 to the ridge or bed 2, the distance from the ridge or bed 2 in a cross section of the plant and the plant community 1, That is, the size data of the plant and the plant community 1 in a certain direction is calculated.

Further, in the computer 16, the length measuring sensor 11 is moved in parallel with the ridge or the bed 2 direction, for example, vertically above the stem apex of the plant so that the horizontal movement distance and the vertical height data are used. The outer shape data 17 in a vertical cross section of the entire plant and plant community 1 is calculated. in this case,
If the contour data 17 is a vertical distance signal, vertical growth data, that is, height data of plants and plant communities 1, and if it is a horizontal distance signal, horizontal growth data, that is, leaves of plants and plant communities 1. It becomes the branching data such as the spread of.

Next, the computer 16 controls the control device 8 using the contour data 17.

That is, outline data on a vertical cross section with a plant and a plant community 1 (for example, a plant and a plant community 1).
Height data 17) according to a certain period or certain information (for example, when the amount of solar radiation increases rapidly),
The outer shape data 17 at that time is compared with the previous or past outer shape data 18.

As a result, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, when an abnormal change in the morphology of the plant and the plant community 1 is detected (in this case, when the height is remarkably reduced, this is caused by a sudden insolation). In the state A) caused by the wilting of the plants due to the increase, the information is used as a trigger to output the operation signal 9 to the sprinkler 8 which is a control device that influences the growth of the plants and the plant community 1.

As described above, the measuring and controlling apparatus for the plant community form of this embodiment has a ridge or bed 2 which has a horizontal straight line and which grows plants and plant communities 1, and the ridges or beds. A guide rail 10 installed at a certain distance in the vertical direction with respect to the bed 1 and substantially parallel to the horizontal direction, and a length measuring sensor main body and a plant installed on the guide rail 10 using laser light or ultrasonic waves. And a length measuring sensor 11 for measuring the distance between the plant canopy 1, a driving machine 12 for moving the length measuring sensor 11 along the guide rail 10, a moving means 13 for moving the guide rail 10 itself, and a length measuring Distance signal 14 output from sensor 11
Is input, and the distance signal 14 output from the A / D converter 15 and the A / D converter 15 for analog / digital conversion of this input signal is taken in, and the distance is measured by the length measurement sensor 11
To the ridge or bed 2 distance,
A function to calculate the size data of a plant and a plant community 1 in a certain direction, the length measuring sensor 11 is arranged vertically above the stem apex of the plant, etc., and the length measuring sensor 11 is almost in the ridge or bed 2 direction. A function of calculating outline data in a vertical cross section with a plant and a plant community 1 based on a horizontal movement distance and a vertical height data obtained by moving in parallel, and a vertical with the plant and plant community 1. The outline data in the cross section is taken in according to a certain period or certain information, and the outline data in the vertical cross section of the plant and the plant community 1 at that time are compared with the previous or past outline data,
When an abnormal change in the morphology of plants and plant communities 1 is detected, the information is used as a trigger for the plants and plant communities 1
16 having a function of controlling the operation of a sprinkler, which is a control device 8 for controlling the environment that affects the growth of plants
It is composed of and.

Therefore, the conventional digitizer 6 for image processing is used.
Compared with the above, the low-priced length measuring sensor 11 and the computer 16 are used to create the contour data 17 of a plant in a vertical cross section of the plant and the plant community 1 and collect it over time. When a change (other than a change due to normal growth) is captured, the change is used as a trigger to control the sprinkler, which is the control device 8 that controls the environment around the plant and the plant community 1. Compared with the measurement and control equipment that applies
It becomes possible to reliably and accurately grasp the morphological changes of a wider range of plants and plant communities 1 and control the sprinkler that is the control device 8.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be implemented in the same manner as described below.

(A) In the above embodiment, the case where the control device 8 for controlling the environment around the plants and the plant community 1 is a sprinkler has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. Even when the control device 8 for controlling is a heater or the like for controlling the temperature, the present invention is similarly applied and the same effect as described above can be obtained.

(B) In the above embodiment, the guide rail 1
0, the length measuring sensor 11, and the moving means 13 are provided for each one, but the present invention is not limited to this, and when the number of rows of plants and plant communities 1 is plural, the guide rail 10, the length measuring Sensor 11 and moving means 13
May be provided by the number of rows of plants and plant communities 1, respectively, or one guide rail 10, one length measuring sensor 11 and one moving means 13 may be provided to provide guide rails 10 for plants and You may make it move to the direction orthogonal to the row direction of the plant community 1.

In addition, the present invention can be variously modified and implemented within the scope of the invention.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, a ridge or bed having a horizontal linear spread and growing plants and plant communities, and a certain distance in the ridge or bed in the vertical direction are maintained. , And a guide rail that is installed substantially parallel to the horizontal direction, a length measuring sensor that is installed on the guide rail and measures the distance between the length measuring sensor body and the plants and plant communities, and the length measuring along the guide rail. The moving means for moving the sensor and the distance signal output from the length measuring sensor are input, and the analog / digital converting means for analog / digital converting the input signal and the distance signal output from the analog / digital converting means are fetched. , The distance is subtracted from the distance from the length measuring sensor to the ridge or bed to calculate the size data in the direction of the plant and plant community. No., the vertical length data is obtained by arranging the length measurement sensor vertically above the plant apex and moving the length measurement sensor almost parallel to the ridge or bed direction. Based on the function to calculate the outline data in the vertical cross section with plants and plant communities, and the outline data in the vertical cross section with plants and plant communities are taken in according to a certain cycle or certain information, and the plant and plant communities at that time When an abnormal change in the morphology of plants and plant communities is detected by comparing the contour data of a certain vertical section with the previous or past contour data, the information is used as a trigger to affect the growth of plants and plant communities. Since it is configured with an arithmetic processing unit having a function of controlling the operation of a control device that controls the environment to exert, it is a low price and a morphological change of a wider plant community. Reliably and accurately capture highly reliable plant communities form that can be controlled by the measuring and control device can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a plant community measurement / control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of outline data of a plant community obtained in the same example.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a conventional plant community measurement / control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Plant and plant community, 2 ... Ridge or bed, 8 ...
Control device, 9 ... Operation signal, 10 ... Guide rail, 11 ...
Length measuring sensor, 12 ... Driving machine, 13 ... Moving means, 14 ... Distance signal, 15 ... A / D converter, 16 ... Computer, 1
7 ... Outline data, 18 ... Past outline data.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A ridge or bed that has a horizontal straight line and that grows plants and plant communities, and is installed at a certain distance in the vertical direction from the ridge or bed and is installed substantially parallel to the horizontal direction. Guide rail, a length measuring sensor installed on the guide rail, for measuring a distance between the length measuring sensor main body and the plant and plant community, and a moving means for moving the length measuring sensor along the guide rail. And a measuring device for controlling a plant community form. 2. The plant community type measurement / control device according to claim 1, wherein the distance signal output from the length measuring sensor is input, and the input signal is analog / digital converted. And a distance signal output from the analog / digital conversion means is taken in, and the distance is subtracted from the distance between the length measuring sensor and the ridge or bed to determine the size of the plant and the plant community in a certain direction. The calculation processing means for calculating the data of and the addition of
Control device. 3. The plant community type measurement / control device according to claim 1, wherein the distance signal output from the length measurement sensor is input, and the input signal is analog-digital converted. And a distance signal output from the analog / digital conversion means is taken in, and the distance is subtracted from the distance between the length measuring sensor and the ridge or bed to determine the size of the plant and the plant community in a certain direction. The function of calculating the data, and the length measuring sensor is arranged vertically above the shoot apex of the plant, and the horizontal movement distance obtained by moving the length measuring sensor substantially parallel to the ridges or the bed direction. Arithmetic processing means having a function of calculating the outer shape data in the vertical section where the plants and plant communities are based on the vertical height data. Measurement of plant community morphology characterized by
Control device. 4. The plant community type measurement / control device according to claim 1, wherein the distance signal output from the length measurement sensor is input, and the input signal is analog / digital converted. And a distance signal output from the analog / digital conversion means is taken in, and the distance is subtracted from the distance between the length measuring sensor and the ridge or bed to determine the size of the plant and the plant community in a certain direction. A function to calculate the data of the above, by arranging the length measuring sensor vertically above the stem top of the plant, etc., and by moving the length measuring sensor substantially parallel to the ridge or bed direction, the horizontal movement distance and vertical Based on the height data of the above, and the function of calculating the outer shape data in the vertical cross section with the plant and the plant community, and the lead with the plant and the plant community The contour data of the cross section is taken in at a fixed cycle or according to certain information, and the contour data of the vertical cross section with the plants and plant communities at that time is compared with the previous or past contour data, and the morphology of the plants and plant communities is abnormal. When a change is detected, an arithmetic processing unit having a function of controlling the operation of a control device that controls the environment that affects the growth of the plants and plant communities by using the information as a trigger, is added. Measurement of characteristic plant community morphology
Control device.