Vehicle Based Laser Range Finding in Crops 英文参考文献.docVIP

Sensors 2009, 9, 3679-3694; doi:10.3390/OPEN ACCESS sensors ISSN 1424-8220 /journal/sensors Article Vehicle Based Laser Range Finding in Crops Detlef Ehlert *, Rolf Adamek and Hans-Juergen Horn Leibniz-Institute for Agricultural Engineering Potsdam-Bornim, Max-Eyth-Allee 100, 14469 Potsdam, Germany; E-Mails: radamek@atb-potsdam.de; jhorn@atb-potsdam.de * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: dehlert@atb-potsdam.de; Tel.: +49 331 56 99 410; Fax: +49 331 5699 849 Received: 27 August 2008 / Accepted: 28 October 2008 / Published: 15 May 2009 Abstract: Laser rangefinders and laser scanners are widely used for industrial purposes and for remote sensing. In agriculture information about crop parameters like volume, height, and density can support the optimisation of production processes. In scientific papers the measurement of these parameters by low cost laser rangefinders with one echo has been presented for short ranges. Because the cross section area of the beam increases with the measuring range, it can be expected that laser rangefinders will have a reduced measuring accuracy in small sized crops and when measuring far distances. These problems are caused by target areas smaller than the beam and by the beam striking the edges of crop objects. Lab tests under defined conditions and a real field test were performed to assess the measuring properties under such difficult conditions of a chosen low cost sensor. Based on lab tests it was shown that the accuracy was reduced, but the successful use of the sensor under field conditions demonstrated the potential to meet the demands for agricultural applications. Insights resulting from investigations made in the paper contribute to facilitating the choice or the development of laser rangefinder sensors for vehicle based measurement of crop parameters for optimisation of pro