Title
An Ultra-Wideband Frequency System for Non-Destructive Root Imaging.
Abstract
Understanding the root system architecture of plants as they develop is critical for increasing crop yields through plant phenotyping, and ultra-wideband imaging systems have shown potential as a portable, low-cost solution to non-destructive imaging root system architectures. This paper presents the design, implementation, and analysis of an ultra-wideband imaging system for use in imaging potted plant root system architectures. The proposed system is separated into three main subsystems: a Data Acquisition module, a Data Processing module, and an Image Processing and Analysis module. The Data Acquisition module consists of simulated and experimental implementations of a non-contact synthetic aperture radar system to measure ultra-wideband signal reflections from concealed scattering objects in a pot containing soil. The Data Processing module is responsible for interpreting the measured ultra-wideband signals and producing an image using a delay-and-sum beamforming algorithm. The Image Processing and Analysis module is responsible for improving image quality and measuring root depth and average root diameter in an unsupervised manner. The Image Processing and Analysis module uses a modified top-hat transformation alongside quantization methods based on energy distributions in the image to isolate the surface of the imaged root. Altogether, the proposed subsystems are capable of imaging and measuring concealed taproot system architectures with controlled soil conditions; however, the performance of the system is highly dependent on knowledge of the soil conditions. Smaller roots in difficult imaging conditions require future work into understanding and compensating for unwanted noise. Ultimately, this paper sought to provide insight into improving imaging quality of ultra-wideband (UWB) imaging systems for plant root imaging for other works to be followed.
Year
DOI
Venue
2018
10.3390/s18082438
SENSORS
Keywords
Field
DocType
ultra-wideband,radar imaging,image processing,delay-and-sum beamforming,non-destructive root imaging
Electronic engineering,Ultra-wideband,Engineering
Journal
Volume
Issue
Citations 
18
8.0
0
PageRank 
References 
Authors
0.34
1
3
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Thomas Truong100.34
Anh Van Dinh24618.32
Khan A. Wahid332738.08