Crop-row Detection by Color Line Sensor

The purpose of this study is to develop a crop-row detector which can be applied to an automatic row following control for cultivators or thinning machines. In this report, a possibility of new crop-row detecting method was discussed. This detecting method consists of two principal means. One is the hardware means to convert the two dimensional crop-row vision to the compacted one dimensional information. The conversion is achieved by a color line sensor and a rotating mirror. In order to extract crop-row , R and G signals of RGB color system are used. The locations of two different points on the target row are detected by this means. Another is the software means to estimate the offset value and the heading angle between the detector and the target row which can be assumed as a straight line. As a result of discussion, it was concluded that this detecting method would be accurate enough for practical use.