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Food quality control is an important task in the agricultural domain at the postharvest stage for avoiding food losses. The latest achievements in image processing with deep learning (DL) and computer vision (CV) approaches provide a number of effective tools based on the image colorization and image-to-image translation for plant quality control at the postharvest stage. In this article, we propose the approach based on Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) techniques to use synthesized and segmented VNIR imaging data for early postharvest decay and fungal zone predictions as well as the quality assessment of stored apples. The Pix2PixHD model achieved higher results in terms of VNIR images translation from RGB (SSIM = 0.972). Mask R-CNN model was selected as a CNN technique for VNIR images segmentation and achieved 58.861 for postharvest decay zones, 40.968 for fungal zones and 94.800 for both the decayed and fungal zones detection and prediction in stored apples in terms of F1-score metric. In order to verify the effectiveness of this approach, a unique paired dataset containing 1305 RGB and VNIR images of apples of four varieties was obtained. It is further utilized for a GAN model selection. Additionally, we acquired 1029 VNIR images of apples for training and testing a CNN model. We conducted validation on an embedded system equipped with a graphical processing unit. Using Pix2PixHD, 100 VNIR images from RGB images were generated at a rate of 17 frames per second (FPS). Subsequently, these images were segmented using Mask R-CNN at a rate of 0.42 FPS. The achieved results are promising for enhancing the food study and control during the postharvest stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hogweed of Sosnowskyi (lat. Heracleum sosnówskyi) is poisonous for humans, dangerous for farming crops, and local ecosystems. This plant is fast-growing and has already spread all over Eurasia: from Germany to the Siberian part of Russia, and its distribution expands year-by-year. In-situ detection of this harmful plant is a tremendous challenge for many countries. Meanwhile, there are no automatic systems for detection and localization of hogweed. In this article, we report on an approach for fast and accurate detection of hogweed. The approach includes the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) with an embedded system on board running various Fully Convolutional Neural Networks (FCNN). We propose the optimal architecture of FCNN for the embedded system relying on the trade-off between the detection quality and frame rate. We propose a model that achieves ROC AUC 0.96 in the hogweed segmentation task, which can process 4K frames at 0.46 FPS on NVIDIA Jetson Nano. The developed system can recognize the hogweed on the scale of individual plants and leaves. This system opens up a wide vista for obtaining comprehensive and relevant data about the spreading of harmful plants allowing for the elimination of their expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence (AI) has smoothly penetrated in a number of monitoring and control applications including agriculture. However, research efforts toward low-power sensing devices with fully functional AI on board are still fragmented. In this article, we present an embedded system enriched with the AI, ensuring the continuous analysis and in situ prediction of the growth dynamics of plant leaves. The embedded solution is grounded on a low-power embedded sensing system with a graphics processing unit (GPU) and is able to run the neural network-based AI on board. We use a recurrent neural network (RNN) called the long short-term memory network (LSTM) as a core of AI in our system. The proposed approach guarantees the system autonomous operation for 180 days using a standard Li-ion battery. We rely on the state-of-the-art mobile graphical chips for “smart” analysis and control of autonomous devices. This pilot study opens up wide vista for a variety of intelligent monitoring applications, especially in the agriculture domain. In addition, we share with the research community the Tomato Growth data set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Deep learning-based apple tree health assessment system using image segmentation. • End-to-end implementation with a user-friendly interface. • The developed system was tested under field conditions in an apple orchard. • The platform allows to speed up the digital phenotyping process. Computer vision and machine learning have recently been applied to a number of sensing platforms, boosting their performance to a new level. These advances have shown the vast possibilities for enhancing remote plant health assessment and disease detection. Until now, however, the scanning time and spatial resolution of such automated tools have been limited, as well as the area of application. We developed a state-of-the-art sensing system equipped with artificial intelligence and multispectral imaging with a special focus on near real-time and universality of application in agriculture. For this purpose, we collected a dataset of over 360,000 images of healthy and infected apple trees to develop and test our system, which includes a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) algorithm for leaves segmentation. The proposed solution automatically computed vegetation indices (VIs) accurate to a single pixel. Further, we developed a desktop application for data post-processing and visualization, which allows the user to rapidly assess the health status of a vast agricultural area and thoroughly examine each tree individually. The developed system was successfully tested under field conditions in a large apple orchard, confirming viability of a reliable, end-to-end solution based on a computer vision platform for remote assessment of plant health and identification of stressed plants with high precision and spatial resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]