Sensors & Data Analysis

The sensors team develops and evaluates digital solutions for all aspects of sugar beet cultivation. They use various optical systems such as RGB or thermal cameras, 3D sensors, and spectral devices on different scales including laboratory, greenhouse, and field. Typically, sensors are mounted on automated platforms such as robots or drones in the field.

The ongoing research projects are focused on automating monitoring, training AI routines for digital rating, finding alternative methods for weed control, and automating disease detection and description.

The group is highly interdisciplinary and sees itself as an interface between digital agriculture, established methods, other groups at the IfZ, and the needs of agricultural practice.

Main research areas

• Automation of monitoring routines

• Use of digital measurement methods

• Alternative weed control methods

• Combination of sensor data with agronomic knowledge

• Integration of digital solutions into agricultural practice

Methodology

• Optical sensor technology

• Robotics

• AI evaluation and modelling