Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: This research aims to develop the core technologies for agricultural infotronic systems, including the automated data collection, processing and presentation technologies, intelligent task planning and automated implementation functions. Such integrated agricultural infotronic systems technology can be used to support more effective mechanized precision crop production. Efforts have been focused on creating an innovative concept of visual situation awareness and automated calibration technologies for field agricultural machinery. A stereovision surrounding observation technology can provide a reliable and accurate means to gain the situation awareness for enhancing the safe operation. It is anticipated to provide farmers a means of more productive and safer operation, and therefore promises an incalculable societal and economical benefit to agricultural producers and their families. An automated system calibration technology can remove one of the major service obstacles for growers to adopting the visual situation awareness technology on their automated machinery. A pilot study has verified that it is technically feasible to estimate the vehicle motion status based on visual cues. The other major research activities of this year include the preliminary study on fundamental technologies for biomass feedstock harvesting. Based on the outcomes from this research program, four peer-reviewed articles have been published in various professional journals, and 6 research papers have been represented on several national and international technical conferences. In addition, one graduate student has completed his study in the program, and received his Ph.D. degree in Fall 2009. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Project terminated early as the PI has left the University of Illinois.
Impacts
The goal of this research program is to create a capable system for crop growers to safely and efficiently practice effective and profitable mechanized precision farming operations. The impact of such technology is very significant: It is very easy to achieve a crop production goal of increased yield by a few percentage points without consuming any more resources through more efficient production management. Based on an unconfirmed report, a collaborating crop grower had claimed a 10% higher yield over his neighbors after applying the technology. If the research outcome could assist crop growers in realizing a 2% yield increase in their production through more efficient management, it would increase the farm income by about $10,000 per year if the grower planting 500 acres of corn based on the average yield of corn and the average corn price in 2008. For the total acreage of over 80 million acres of corn planted in the United State in 2008, the 2% higher yield of corn alone would mean $1.6 billion dollars more in income to the agriculture industry. In addition, an automatically calibrated intelligent visual situation awareness device could provide farmers a reliable safety watching function on their machinery, and lead to a more efficient operation by creating a safer operating environment.
Publications
- Cui, D., Zhang, Q., Li, M., Zhao, Y. and Hartman, G. 2009. Detection of soybean rust using a multispectral image sensor. Sens. and Instrumen. Food Qual., 3: 49-56.
- Rovira-Mas, F., Wang, Q. and Zhang, Q. 2009. Bifocal stereoscopic vision for intelligent vehicles. International Journal of Vehicular Technology, Article ID 123231, 9 pages. doi:10.1155/2009/123231.
- Yuan, W., Hansen, A. and Zhang, Q. 2009. Predicting the temperature dependent viscosity of biodiesel fuels. Fuel, 88: 1120-1126.
- Gao, Y., Jin, Y. and Zhang, Q. 2009. Motion planning based coordinated control for hydraulic excavators. Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 22: 97-101.
- Wang, Q. 2009. Autonomous machine vision for off-road vehicles in unstructured fields. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: This research aims to develop the core technologies for agricultural automation, including automated data gathering, data processing technologies, task planning, and automated execution functions. Such an integrated agricultural automation systems technology can be use to support more effective mechanized precision crop production. Efforts have been focused on creating an automated path planning tool implementable on mobile agricultural machinery. This technology is anticipated to support more efficient field operations by eliminating missing or overlapped coverage of a field, as well as minimizing the unnecessary paths for auxiliary functions, and therefore promises higher efficiency field operation. A pilot study has verified that it is technically feasible to achieve the goal. The other major research activities of this year include the design of a crop health detection system for mechanized precision crop production and generic design methods for electrohydraulic steering controllers for agricultural equipment applications. Based on the outcomes from this research program, five peer-reviewed articles have been published in various professional journals, and eight research papers have been presented on several national and international technical conferences. In addition, two graduate students have completed their study and received their M.S. degree in Spring and Summer of 2007, respectively. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The goal of this research program is to create capable and handy technologies for crop growers to practice effective and profitable mechanized precision farming operations. Such technologies aim at assisting producers to achieve their production goal of increasing yield by just a few percent without consuming any more resources through more efficient production management. Based on an unconfirmed report, a collaborating crop grower had claimed a 10% higher yield over his neighbors by practicing better management supported by effective production data utilization. If the research outcomes could assist average growers to realize even just a 2% yield increase in their production through more efficient management, it would increase their farm income by at least $9,000 per year if the grower plants 1,000 acres of corn based on the average yield of corn and the average corn price in year 2007. For the total acreage of over 85 million acres of corn planted in the United States in 2007, the 2% higher yield of corn alone would mean $765 million dollars more income to the agriculture industry. In addition, the computerized agricultural systems management could lead to a more efficient use of natural resources in crop production, which could greatly help us to reduce adverse effects of pesticides and nutrient inputs to the environment.
Publications
- He, Y., Zhang, Q., Hansen, A.C., Noguchi, N. and Shin, B.-S. 2006. Computer-integrated crop production technologies for mechanized precision farming. Transactions of the CSAE, 22(11): 152-159.
- Reum, D. and Zhang, Q. 2007. Wavelet based multi-spectral image analysis of maize leaf chlorophyll content. Computer and Electronics in Agriculture, 56: 60-71.
- Hansen, A.C., Zhang, Q. and Wilcox, T.A. 2007. Modeling and analysis of row crop harvesting patterns by combines. Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, 50: 5-12.
- Yuan, W., Hansen, A.C. and Zhang, Q. 2007. Computational modeling of NOx emissions from biodiesel combustion. International Journal of Vehicle Design, 45: 12-32.
- Rovira-Mas, F., Zhang, Q. and Hansen, A.C., 2007. Dynamic behavior of an electrohydraulic valve: Typology of characteristic curves. Mechatronics, 17: 551-561.
- Daddupaduvari, B. 2007. Optimization of baffle plate location in fuel tank using computational fluid dynamics and finite element analysis. M.S. Thesis, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
- Ryerson, A.E.F. and Zhang, Q. 2007. Vehicle path planning for complete field coverage using genetic algorithms. The CIGR Ejournal, IX: ATOE 07 014.
- Kingdon, Ryan, 2007. System response and control performance of an electrohydraulic implement system. M.S. Thesis, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
This research aims to develop the core technologies for agricultural automation, including the automated data gathering, data processing technologies, task planning and automated execution functions. Such an integrated agricultural automation system technology can be use to support more effective mechanized precision crop production. Efforts have been focused on creating an innovative concept of active rollover prevention systems (AROPS) technology for mobile agricultural machinery. Unlike the ROPS technology which provides only a passive protection to the operator in a rollover accident, the AROPS aims at providing an active prevention to operator's safety by avoiding a rollover from happening. It is anticipated to provide more reliable safety protection to users, and therefore promises an incalculable societal and economical benefit to agricultural equipment operators and their families. A pilot study has verified that it is technically feasible to estimate the
vehicle motion status based on visual-cues. The other major research activities of this year include the design of a computerized farm management system for mechanized precision crop production, an intelligent path planning method for agricultural equipment navigation, and generic design methods for electrohydraulic steering controllers for agricultural equipment applications. Based on the outcomes from this research program, six peer-reviewed articles have been published in various professional journals, and 11 research papers have been presented at several national and international technical conferences. In addition, one graduate student has completed his study in the program, and received his M.S. degree in the Summer of 2006.
Impacts
The goal of this research program is to create a capable and handy tool for crop growers to practice effective and profitable mechanized precision farming operations. The impact of such technology is very significant: it is very easily to achieve a crop production goal of increased yield by a few percent without consuming any more resources through more efficient production management. Based on an unconfirmed report, a collaborating crop grower had claimed a 10% higher yield over his neighbors. If the research outcome could assist growers in realizing a 2% yield increase in their production through more efficient management, it would increase the farm income by at least $2,810 per year for a grower planting 500 acres of corn based on the average yield of corn and the average corn price in year 2005. For the total acreage of over 81 million acres of corn planted in the United States in 2005, the 2% higher yield of corn alone would mean $23 billion dollars more income
to the agriculture industry. In addition, the computerized agricultural systems management could lead to a more efficient use of natural resources in crop production, which could greatly help us to reduce adverse effects of pesticides and nutrient inputs to the environment.
Publications
- Kise, M. and Zhang, Q. 2006. Sensor-in-the-loop tractor stability control: Look-ahead attitude prediction and field tests. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 52: 107-118.
- Gao, Y. and Zhang, Q. 2006. A wavelet packet and residual analyses based method for hydraulic pump health diagnosis. Proc. Instn. Mech. Engrs. Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering, 220: 735-745.
- Norris, W.R., Zhang, Q. and Sreenivas, R. 2006. Rule-base reduction for a fuzzy human operator performance model. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 22: 611-618.
- Hancock, K.M. and Zhang, Q. 2006. A hybrid approach to hydraulic vane pump condition monitoring and fault detection. Transactions of the ASABE, 49: 1203-1211.
- Rovira-Mas, F., Reid, J.F. and Zhang, Q. 2006. Stereovision information processing with 3D density maps for agricultural vehicles. Transactions of the ASABE, 49: 1213-1222.
- Noh, H., Zhang, Q., Shin, B. Han, S. and Feng, L. 2006. A neural network model of maize crop nitrogen stress assessment for a multispectral imaging sensor. Biosystems Engineering, 94: 477-485.
- Dixon, S.A. 2006. A computerized electrohydraulic test stand for undergraduate engineering education. M.S. Thesis, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
This research aims to develop a systems technology for information management integrated using a computer. This systems technology can integrate information gathering, data processing, task planning and automated execution functions to support more effective crop production. Efforts have been focused on designing the infrastructure of a computer-integrated crop production (CICP) system. In addition, a multi-function stereovision-based intelligent control technology, capable of performing 3D crop row tracking for tractor guidance, 3D field mapping for crop growth assessment and 3D terrain recognition for tractor rollover prevention, has been developed. All the developed technologies have been preliminary validated via field tests. Further investigation is necessary to fully develop these technologies for practical use in precision agriculture productions. The impact of this research is very significant because it will furnish agricultural producers a handy tool to make
use of technologies being developed for practicing precision farming efficiently, and allow producers to benefit from the technology advancement.
Impacts
The impact of this research is to provide crop growers a useful tool to practice site-specific management in their production. One of the major obstacles for crop growers to practice site-specific management is the lack of effective methods to manage the site-specific operational data and make optimal operational decisions based on these data. The agricultural infotronics technology will provide a means for managing the productional data automatically on the operating machinery or remotely via a central service station. Therefore, this research has both technical significance and societal importance.
Publications
- Kise, M., Zhang, Q. and Noguchi, N. 2005. Obstacle detection using laser range finder for autonomous agricultural vehicles. Transactions of the ASAE 48(3): 1269-1278.
- Guo, L. and Zhang, Q. 2005. Wireless data fusion system for agricultural vehicle positioning. Biosystems Engineering 91(3): 261-269.
- Zhu, Z.X., Torisu, R., Takeda, J.I., Mao, E.R. and Zhang, Q. 2005. Neural network for estimating vehicle behaviour on sloping terrain. Biosystems Engineering 91(4): 403-411.
- Benson, E.R., Zhang, Q. and Reid, J.F. 2004. Fuzzy logic method for adaptively evaluating the validity of sensor data. United States Patent No. 6,898,585 B2.
- Reum, D.D. 2005. Wavelet analysis of multi-spectral images of corn plants. M.S. Thesis, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
- Ryerson, A.E.F. 2005. Vehicle path planning for complete field coverage using genetic algorithms. M.S. Thesis, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
- Hancock, K. M. 2005. Hydraulic vane pump fault detection using wavelet packet analysis and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference. M.S. Thesis, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
- Viall, A. 2005. Fault diagnosis of a hydraulic vane pump. M.S. Thesis, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
- Kise, M., Zhang, Q. and Rovira Mas, F. 2005. A Stereovision-based crop row detector for tractor automated guidance. Biosystems Engineering 90(4): 357-367.
- Yuan, W., Hansen, A.C. and Zhang, Q. 2005. Vapor pressure and normal boiling point predictions for pure methyl esters and biodiesel fuels. Fuel 84(7/8): 943-950.
- Rovira Mas, F., Zhang, Q., Reid, J.F. and Will, J.D. 2005. Hough-transform-based vision algorithm for crop row detection of an automated agricultural vehicle. Journal of Automobile Engineering 219(8): 999-1010.
- Noh, H., Zhang, Q., Shin, B., Han, S. and Reum, D. 2005. Dynamic calibration and image segmentation methods for multispectral imaging crop nitrogen deficiency sensors. Transactions of the ASAE 48(1): 393-401.
- Hansen, A.C., Zhang, Q. and Lyne, P.W.L. 2005. Ethanol diesel fuel blends, a review. Bioresource Technology, 96(2): 277-285.
- Yuan, Y., Hansen, A., Zhang, Q. and Tan, Z. 2005. Temperature-dependent kinematic viscosity of selected biodiesel fuels and blends with diesel fuel. Journal of the American Oil Chemists Society 82(3): 195-199.
- Rovira Mas, F., Zhang, Q. and Reid, J.F. 2005. Creation of three-dimensional crop maps based on aerial stereo images. Biosystems Engineering 90(3): 251-259.
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
This research aims to develop a systems technology for information management integrated using a computer. This systems technology can integrate information gathering, data processing, task planning and automated execution functions to support more effective crop production. Efforts have focused on developing key composing technologies which furnish the necessary preconditions to create a computer-integrated crop production system, and designing a framework for the computer integrated system. A stereo multispectral field imaging system has been developed for acquiring 3D images of a field scene at a specific location in various light bands. Such located-identified multispectral 3D images provide the base information for reality-mining to assess crop growth status, either locally or remotely. Such crop growth information is essential for supporting site-specific management of crop production. The impact of this research is very significant because it will furnish
agricultural producers a handy tool to make use of technologies being developed for practicing precision farming efficiently, and be benefited from the technology advancement.
Impacts
The impact of this research is to provide crop growers a useful tool to practice site-specific management in their production. One of the major obstacles for crop growers to practice site-specific management is the lack of effective methods to manage the site-specific operational data and make optimal operational decisions based on these data. The agricultural infotronics technology will provide a means for managing the productional data automatically on the operating machinery or remotely via a central service station. Therefore, this research has both technical significance and societal importance.
Publications
- Rovira Mas, F., Zhang, Q., Reid, J.F. and Will, J.D. 2004. Automated tractor navigation using stereo disparity images. Transactions of the ASAE, 47(4): 1289-1300.
- Noguchi, N., Will, J., Reid, J.F. and Zhang, Q. 2004. Development of master-slave robot system for farm management. Computer and Electronics in Agriculture, 44(1): 1-19.
- Yuan, Y., Hansen, A. and Zhang, Q. 2004. The specific gravity of biodiesel fuels and their blends with diesel fuel. The CIGR Journal of Agricultural Engineering Scientific Research and Development, VI: EE 04 004.
- Han, S., Zhang, Q., Ni, B. and Reid, J.F. 2004. Guidance directrix approach for designing a vision-based vehicle guidance system. Computer and Electronics in Agriculture, 43(3): 179-195.
- Zhang, Q. and Qiu, H. 2004. A dynamic path search algorithm for tractor automatic navigation. Transactions of the ASAE, 47(2): 639-646.
- Han, S., Zhang, Q., Noh, H.K. and Shin, B.S. 2004. A dynamic performance evaluation method for DGPS receivers under parallel-tracking applications. Transactions of the ASAE, 47(1): 321-329.
- Wu, K., Zhang, Q. and Hansen, A.C. 2004. Modeling and identification of a hardware-in-the-loop hydrostatic transmission simulator. International Journal of Vehicle Design, 34(1): 63-75.
- Benson, E.R., Reid, J.F. and Zhang, Q. 2003. Machine vision-based guidance system for agricultural grain harvesters using cut-edge detection. Biosystems Engineering, 86(4): 389-398.
- Rovira Mas, F., Zhang, Q., Reid, J.F. and Will, J.D. 2003. Machine vision based automated tractor guidance. International Journal of Smart Engineering Design 5: 467-480.
- Han, S., Shin, B.S. and Zhang, Q. 2003. Map-based control for autonomous tractors. Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, 4(1): 22-27.
- Yuan, W., Hansen, A.C. and Zhang, Q. 2003. Predicting the physical properties of biodiesel for combustion modeling. Transactions of the ASAE, 46(6): 1487-1493.
- Benson, E.R., Zhang, Q. and Reid, J.F. 2004. A method and apparatus for processing an image of an agricultural field. United States Patent No. 6,721,453 B1.
- Benson, E.R., Zhang, Q. and Reid, J.F. 2004. A method and apparatus for determining the quality of an image of an agricultural field using a plurality of fuzzy logic input membership functions. United States Patent No. 6,819,780 B2.
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Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
The goal of this research is to establish an agricultural infotronics technology for production agriculture. This technology is aimed at providing crop growers ready-to-implement instructions for performing precision farming operations, such as where and how much nitrogen to apply while operating a sprayer in the field. This technology will be presented in a transparent-to-user format that crop growers can easily use. Efforts have focused on concept-prove of the agricultural infotronics technology, mainly on the design and construction of the framework for the agricultural infotronic system. This constructed framework consists of an in-office data processing station, and an on-machinery data collection and instruction display device. This framework is now ready to support the proposed research.
Impacts
The impact of this research is to provide growers a useful tool to practice precision agriculture (PA) in their production. One of the major obstacles for crop growers to practice PA is the lack of effective methods to manage the site-specific operational data and make optimal operational decisions based on these data. The agricultural infotronics technology will provide a means for managing the production data automatically on the operating machinery or remotely via a central service station. Therefore, this research has both technical significance and societal importance.
Publications
- Noh, H. 2003. Ground sensor based variable rate nitrogen management. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
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