Ultrasonic Plant Height System (UPHS)

The UPHS is a phenotyping device that provides a significant improvement in sampling time and sample size in screening plant field canopies.

IntermediateWork in progress1,586

Story

Synopsis

Plant height is a key trait studied in breeding and research programs. Measurements in the field are time-consuming as they require manual measurements with several replicates. The UPHS is a phenotyping device that provides a significant improvement in sampling time and sample size. It uses low-cost ultrasonic sensors to screen the field canopy and obtain an accurate biological sample of this trait.

Software

TBA

Hardware

The UHPS will use an Arduino microcontroller and ultrasonic sensors to acquire plant height data. The ultrasonic sensor will emit a sound wave that will bounce back from the canopy. An initial read or manual input can be used as baseline (sensor height from the ground). This will be possible using a screen and at least three buttons. Once height zero is stored, we can calculate height from each data point and average a value from hundreds of data points collected in just a few seconds.

Installation, Maintenance and Testing Guide

TBA

Credits

Biomaker Challenge 2017: Team 29

Posted by

Jim Haseloff

Thanks to Ricardo H. Ramirez-Gonzalez, John Innes Centre, Crop Genetics, Marcela Mendoza-Suarez, Plant Sciences, Oxford University, Carolina Ramírez-Figueroa, School of Architecture, Newcastle University, Oscar E. Gonzalez-Navarro, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Food and Health, Luis Hernan, School of Architecture, Newcastle University, and Dimitris Latousakis.

Ultrasonic Plant Height System (UPHS)