Source: ROSE-FIELD INC. submitted to
DETECTING BANKS GRASS MITES IN PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA USING AUTOMATION TABA FUNDING
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
SMALL BUSINESS GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1019433
Grant No.
2019-33610-29754
Cumulative Award Amt.
$103,215.00
Proposal No.
2019-00504
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Aug 1, 2019
Project End Date
Mar 31, 2021
Grant Year
2020
Program Code
[8.13]- Plant Production and Protection-Engineering
Project Director
Powell, T.
Recipient Organization
ROSE-FIELD INC.
5321 OCEAN UNIT 102
HAWTHORNE,CA 902501141
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Banks Grass Mites (BGM) is a major pest of Deglet Noor dates (one of four majorvarieties of dates grown in Southern California). This research proposes to develop an integrated system using drone technology to detect BGM in date bunches and conduct target placement of predatory mites into the infested bunches. The predatory mites erradicate the pest mites while preventingover-useof pesticides in the date fields. The concept is simple. Drones will fly through the date palm orchards, examine date bunches, detect BGM colonies, reocrd the location of infestations, and target release of the predatory mites. The end product provides an economical and environmentally-friendly solution to a serious date pest problem. In addition, researchers can map infested bunch location over time and multiple orchards to understand BGM infestation patterns in date palm orchards. There are three phases planned for developing the complete system. In Phase I, the team plans to develop a prototype to demonstrate detection of BGM within a controlled area of a working date palm orchard. In Phase II, the team plans to improve the drone technology to enhance automation, breed BGM predatory mites, and begin target delivery of the predators within a limited number of date bunches. Phase III focuses on commercialization of the system and developing customer relationships within the date grower communities in the United States.
Animal Health Component
20%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
5%
Applied
20%
Developmental
75%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2111050113040%
2161050202060%
Knowledge Area
211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants; 216 - Integrated Pest Management Systems;

Subject Of Investigation
1050 - Date;

Field Of Science
2020 - Engineering; 1130 - Entomology and acarology;
Goals / Objectives
1. Determine relationship between Banks Grass Mites (BGM) colony growth and BGM detection using IR and NIR cameras.Objectives for Goal 1:1-1. Establish BGM colonies on date bunches within date palm trees. Place no less than 10 adult female BGM per date bunch in sixty date bunchces (600 BGM).1-2. Measure IR signatures of BGM colonies at different colony densities. Record IR signature readings of infected date bunches at minimum 3 times per day, for 14 days, for two date bunches.1-3. Capture Near Infrared (NIR) readings. Record NIR readings of infected date bunches at minimum3 times per day, for 14 days, for two date bunches.2. Design, build, and test drone payload capable of detecting BGM with 70% or greater accuracy during post-processing.Objectives for Goal 2:2-1. Develop desktop version of date bunch detection algorithm. Algorithm development complete when algorithm can detect 70% of infected date bunches of recorded NIR images from previous objectives.2-2. Develop location algorithm. Develop algorithm to mark location where an infected date bunch is located.2-3. Integrate desktop detection algorithm into drone payload computer.3. Conduct real-time detection of BGM in the field with 50% or greater accuracy.Objectives for Goal 3:3-1. Proof of concept drone flight to detect BGM in date palm trees. Drone payload will detect 60% or greater of infected date bunches during flight.
Project Methods
Data capture methods:NIR and IR measurements of the infected date bunches will be captured using automation. This occurs by taking readings automatically and storing the datain memory.Raspberry Pi modules running on battery and solar energy will be the platform totake the readings.Entomolgy methods:Growth of the BGM takes place in Dr. Perring's lab and quantities of BGM are verified using microscopes.Transfer of the lab grown BGM to the field occurs using corn leaves packed in ice to put theBGM in a hibernation state for safe transport to the date field.

Progress 08/01/19 to 01/06/21

Outputs
Target Audience:The immediate target audience for this research and development project is the date farmer community in the desert region of Southern California. In Phase II and beyond, our target audience expands to date farmers around the world andinto other crops wanting detection and erradication of pest insects.We plan to reach the immediate target audience through presentations and in-person demonstrations of the project's results. To reach more date farmers and other crop producers, we plan to expand our internet presence and market online. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This projected allowed the R&D Team to learn more about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and putting AI algorithmson mobile platforms. Also, better data collection and analysis techniques were discovered during the project's duration. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results from the project have been shared with two individuals involved with the date grower community in Southern California. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? All objectives for the three goals were accomplished within the project's duration. Goal 1 - Determine the relationship between Banks Grass Mites (BGM) colony growth and BGM detection using Infrared (IR) and Near IR (NIR). The three objectives for achieving this goal were accomplished during the time alloted for the project.After placing BGM in specific date bunches within a working date farm in Southern California, the research team took measurements using IR and NIR cameras of BGM colony growth over a 14-week period. Data measuredtheexpanse of BGM colony growth for most but not all date bunhces.Also the NIR camera proved more effective than the IR camera atdetecting the changes of the growning colonies. Goal 2 - Design, buld, and test a drone payload capable of detecting BGM with 70% or greater accuracy during post-processing. The three objectives associated with this goal were achieved thus accomplishingGoal 2.Given data from Goal 1, the R&D team developed algorithms for detecting date bunches and for determining levels of BGM within a date bunch. The algorithms were run on benchtop hardware and were run against recorded images of various levels of BGM colonies in date bunches. Results from the testing revealed our algorithms produced 80% accuracy in detecting and identifying BGM in date bunches. Goal 3 - Conduct real-time detection of BGM in date palm trees. The one objective of flying a drone payload within a working date farm and detect 60% or greater accuracy of BGM in a date bunch was achieved during the alloted time of the project. However, this objective required requesting a project extension due to the project's original end date not coinciding withthe date growing season. Also, due to California Safer-At-Home restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 Pandemic, the R&D team relied on natural occuring BGM in date bunches instead of lab grown BGM placed in selective date bunches.Results from the one objective confirmed this project's feasibility by the drone payload's ability tofly in a working date farm and detect date bunches with 20% or greater colonization of the date bunch. The payload was able to detect 2 out of 2 date buncheswith 20% or greater BGM colonization indicating 100% detection rate.

Publications


    Progress 08/01/19 to 07/31/20

    Outputs
    Target Audience:National Program Leader for Plant Productionand Protection Engineering. Changes/Problems:It was discovered that the data from the IR camera is not necessary to detect early damage in date bunches. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Deeper understanding of NIR and IR camera data have been learned by the research team. Also, a better understanding of BGM behavior was also learned during this point in the project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?A progress status report was given to the Southern California Date Growers community before the writing of this report. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The plan is to complete the Goal 2 and Goal 3 objetives before the end of the project. However, due to the date fruit growth season, it is not possible to fly the date palm tree farms before the end of the project. BGM appear in the fields starting late June or early July where this project ends in late March 2020. The project team made a no-cost extension request to NIFA but no word on approval as been made to date February 20, 2020.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? All objectives for Goal 1 - BGM detection using IR and NIR cameras were achieved during this time period. Objectives 2-1and 2-3 for Goal 2 - Design build and test drone payload were achieved. Objective 2-2 was not achieved before the writing of the Progress Report. However, this objective shall be achieved before the conclustion of the project. Objective 3-1 of Goal 3 - Proof of concept was not achieved before the writing of this Progress Report. However, this objective and goal will be complete before the end of the project.

    Publications


      Progress 07/01/19 to 06/30/20

      Outputs
      Target Audience:National Program Leader for Plant Productionand Protection Engineering. Changes/Problems:It was discovered that the data from the IR camera is not necessary to detect early damage in date bunches. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Deeper understanding of NIR and IR camera data have been learned by the research team. Also, a better understanding of BGM behavior was also learned during this point in the project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?A progress status report was given to the Southern California Date Growers community before the writing of this report. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The plan is to complete the Goal 2 and Goal 3 objetives before the end of the project. However, due to the date fruit growth season, it is not possible to fly the date palm tree farms before the end of the project. BGM appear in the fields starting late June or early July where this project ends in late March 2020. The project team made a no-cost extension request to NIFA but no word on approval as been made to date February 20, 2020.

      Impacts
      What was accomplished under these goals? All objectives for Goal 1 - BGM detection using IR and NIR cameras were achieved during this time period. Objectives 2-1and 2-3 for Goal 2 - Design build and test drone payload were achieved. Objective 2-2 was not achieved before the writing of the Progress Report. However, this objective shall be achieved before the conclustion of the project. Objective 3-1 of Goal 3 - Proof of concept was not achieved before the writing of this Progress Report. However, this objective and goal will be complete before the end of the project.

      Publications


        Progress 07/01/19 to 03/31/20

        Outputs
        Target Audience:National Program Leader for Plant Productionand Protection Engineering. Changes/Problems:It was discovered that the data from the IR camera is not necessary to detect early damage in date bunches. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Deeper understanding of NIR and IR camera data have been learned by the research team. Also, a better understanding of BGM behavior was also learned during this point in the project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?A progress status report was given to the Southern California Date Growers community before the writing of this report. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The plan is to complete the Goal 2 and Goal 3 objetives before the end of the project. However, due to the date fruit growth season, it is not possible to fly the date palm tree farms before the end of the project. BGM appear in the fields starting late June or early July where this project ends in late March 2020. The project team made a no-cost extension request to NIFA but no word on approval as been made to date February 20, 2020.

        Impacts
        What was accomplished under these goals? All objectives for Goal 1 - BGM detection using IR and NIR cameras were achieved during this time period. Objectives 2-1and 2-3 for Goal 2 - Design build and test drone payload were achieved. Objective 2-2 was not achieved before the writing of the Progress Report. However, this objective shall be achieved before the conclustion of the project. Objective 3-1 of Goal 3 - Proof of concept was not achieved before the writing of this Progress Report. However, this objective and goal will be complete before the end of the project.

        Publications