Performance of an ultrasonic ranging sensor in apple tree canopies

Electronic canopy characterization is an important issue in tree crop management. Ultrasonic and optical sensors are the most used for this purpose. The objective of this work was to assess the performance of an ultrasonic sensor under laboratory and field conditions in order to provide reliable est...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Escolà i Agustí, Alexandre, Planas de Martí, Santiago, Rosell Polo, Joan Ramon, Pomar Gomà, Jesús, Camp, Ferran, Solanelles Batlle, Francesc, Gràcia, Felip, Llorens Calveras, Jordi, Gil Moya, Emilio
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2011
País:España
Institución:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repositorio:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:10459.1/31340
Acceso en línea:https://doi.org/10.3390/s110302459
http://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/31340
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Ultrasonic sensor
Distance measurements
Apple tree orchard
Ultrasonic interferences
Ultrasons
Distàncies -- Mesurament
Pomera
Descripción
Sumario:Electronic canopy characterization is an important issue in tree crop management. Ultrasonic and optical sensors are the most used for this purpose. The objective of this work was to assess the performance of an ultrasonic sensor under laboratory and field conditions in order to provide reliable estimations of distance measurements to apple tree canopies. To this purpose, a methodology has been designed to analyze sensor performance in relation to foliage ranging and to interferences with adjacent sensors when working simultaneously. Results show that the average error in distance measurement using the ultrasonic sensor in laboratory conditions is ±0.53 cm. However, the increase of variability in field conditions reduces the accuracy of this kind of sensors when estimating distances to canopies. The average error in such situations is ±5.11 cm. When analyzing interferences of adjacent sensors 30 cm apart, the average error is ±17.46 cm. When sensors are separated 60 cm, the average error is ±9.29 cm. The ultrasonic sensor tested has been proven to be suitable to estimate distances to the canopy in field conditions when sensors are 60 cm apart or more and could, therefore, be used in a system to estimate structural canopy parameters in precision horticulture.