**Meet the editor**

Stephan Hussmann received his ME and PhD degrees from the University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany, in 1995 and 2000, respectively. From 1996 to 2000, he was a research associate in the Center for Sensor Systems (ZESS), University of Siegen, and a development engineer in Aicoss GmbH, Siegen. From 2001 to 2003, he was a lecturer in the Department of Electrical and Computer

Engineering, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. Since the end of 2004, he has been a professor in the Faculty of Engineering, West Coast University of Applied Sciences (FHW), Heide, Germany in the area of microprocessor technology and electronic systems. He has been widely consulted in the industry and has more than 80 publications, which include book chapters, international patents, and refereed journals and conference proceedings or papers. His research interests include low-cost multisensor system design, real-time 2D/3D image processing, embedded system design, machine vision, and agricultural automation.

Contents

Contents

**Preface VII**

**Preface VII**

Jehoon Sung

**Organic Farming 17** F. J. Knoll and V. Czymmek

Jehoon Sung

Ivan Mašín and Michal Petrů

Ivan Mašín and Michal Petrů

**Technology 35**

**Time Sensor Technologies 53**

**Technology 35**

Cornelia Weltzien

Cornelia Weltzien

Okayasu

Okayasu

**Section 1 The 4th Industrial Revolution and Trends of Engineering**

**System Evolution in Agriculture 1**

Chapter 1 **The Fourth Industrial Revolution and Precision Agriculture 3**

Chapter 1 **The Fourth Industrial Revolution and Precision Agriculture 3**

**Section 1 The 4th Industrial Revolution and Trends of Engineering**

Chapter 3 **Trends of Engineering Systems Evolution and Agricultural**

Chapter 3 **Trends of Engineering Systems Evolution and Agricultural**

Chapter 4 **Review of Variable-Rate Sprayer Applications Based on Real-**

Chapter 4 **Review of Variable-Rate Sprayer Applications Based on Real-**

**Section 2 Industrial Automation Examples in Agriculture 51**

Chapter 5 **Robotic Harvesting of Fruiting Vegetables: A Simulation Approach in V-REP, ROS and MATLAB 81**

Chapter 5 **Robotic Harvesting of Fruiting Vegetables: A Simulation Approach in V-REP, ROS and MATLAB 81**

Chapter 6 **Ubiquitous Environment Control System: An Internet-of-**

**Control System for a Greenhouse Environment 107**

Chapter 6 **Ubiquitous Environment Control System: An Internet-of-**

Zhihong Zhang, Xiaoyang Wang, Qinghui Lai and Zhaoguo Zhang

Zhihong Zhang, Xiaoyang Wang, Qinghui Lai and Zhaoguo Zhang

Redmond R. Shamshiri, Ibrahim A. Hameed, Manoj Karkee and

Redmond R. Shamshiri, Ibrahim A. Hameed, Manoj Karkee and

**Things–Based Decentralized Autonomous Measurement and**

Takehiko Hoshi, Ken-Ichiro Yasuba, Hideto Kurosaki and Takashi

**Things–Based Decentralized Autonomous Measurement and**

Takehiko Hoshi, Ken-Ichiro Yasuba, Hideto Kurosaki and Takashi

**Control System for a Greenhouse Environment 107**

**Section 2 Industrial Automation Examples in Agriculture 51**

**Time Sensor Technologies 53**

**System Evolution in Agriculture 1**

Chapter 2 **The German Vision of Industry 4.0 Applied in**

**Organic Farming 17** F. J. Knoll and V. Czymmek

Chapter 2 **The German Vision of Industry 4.0 Applied in**

## Contents

### **Preface XI**


**Things–Based Decentralized Autonomous Measurement and Control System for a Greenhouse Environment 107** Takehiko Hoshi, Ken-Ichiro Yasuba, Hideto Kurosaki and Takashi Okayasu

**VI** Contents

Chapter 7 **Machine Vision Systems – A Tool for Automatic Color Analysis in Agriculture 125** Ernesto Martínez Sandoval, Miguel Enrique Martínez Rosas, Jesús Chapter 7 **Color Analysis and Image Processing Applied in Agriculture 125**

Raúl Martínez Sandoval, Manuel Moises Miranda Velasco and Humberto Cervantes De Ávila Ernesto Martínez Sandoval, Miguel Enrique Martínez Rosas, Jesús Raúl Martínez Sandoval, Manuel Moises Miranda Velasco and Humberto Cervantes De Ávila

Preface

done to avoid this impending disaster?

According to Prof. Dickson Despommier, by the year 2050, nearly 80% of the earth's popula‐ tion will reside in urban centers. Applying the most conservative estimates to current demo‐ graphic trends, the human population will increase by about 3 billion people during the interim. An estimated 109 hectares of new land (about 20% more land than is represented by the country of Brazil) will be needed to grow enough food to feed them, if traditional farm‐ ing practices continue as they are practiced today. At present, throughout the world, over 80% of the land that is suitable for raising crops is in use (sources: FAO and NASA). Histori‐ cally, some 15% of that has been laid waste by poor management practices. What can be

Emeritus Prof. Dickson Despommier has conducted laboratory-based biomedical research at Columbia University in the USA for 27 years. He said that one possible solution is indoor farming. However, not all crops can easily be moved in an indoor environment. Neverthe‐ less, to secure the food supply for future generations, it is necessary to increase the automa‐ tion level in agriculture significantly either for indoor or for outdoor applications. This book intends to provide the reader with a comprehensive overview of the current state-of-the-art automation in agriculture, featuring an easy-to-follow, vignette-based format that focuses on the most important evidence-based developments in this critically important area.

The book comprises two main sections. In the first section, the impact of the Fourth Industri‐ al Revolution and Trends of Engineering System Evolution on agriculture is described. The Fourth Industrial Revolution will send a ripple effect of far-reaching repercussions through‐ out the labor-intensive field of agriculture. Dr. J. Sung illustrates this effect in Chapter 1. In Chapter 2, my PhD students, F. Knoll (MSc) and V. Czymmek (MSc), explain the influence of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on the field of organic farming. In our research group at the West Coast University of Applied Science, for example, a robot is being researched that automatically removes the weeds in an organic farm. In Chapter 3, Associate Prof. I. Mašín focuses on the so-called trends of engineering system evolution. He describes natural transi‐ tions of the engineering system from one state to another, and they are generally valid for all engineering disciplines. However, he relates this method to agricultural technology. The second section contains industrial automation examples in agriculture. Chapter 4, written by Dr. Z. Zhang, gives a review on variable-rate sprayer applications based on real-time sensor technologies. Variable-rate spraying of the canopy, for example, allows growers to apply an adjusted volume rate of pesticides to the target, based on canopy size, and to apply plant protection products in an economical and environmentally sound manner. In the next chap‐ ter (Chapter 5), Dr. R. R. Shamshiri reports on designing a simulation and control platform for experimenting with sensors and manipulators in robotic harvesting of sweet pepper. The objective was to provide a completely simulated environment for improvement of visual

Chapter 8 **Automation of Integrated System for Grain Beverages Processing 149** Chapter 8 **Automation of Integrated System for Grain Beverages**

Gana Ibrahim Mohammed, Ephraim Micheal and Agidi Gbabo **Processing 149** Gana Ibrahim Mohammed, Ephraim Micheal and Agidi Gbabo

Chapter 9 **The Effect of Vermicompost and Other Fertilizers on the Growth and Productivity of Pepper Plants in Guyana 167** Vasnie Ganeshnauth, Sirpaul Jaikishun, Abdullah A Ansari and Oudho Homenauth Chapter 9 **The Effect of Vermicompost and Other Fertilizers on the Growth and Productivity of Pepper Plants in Guyana 167** Vasnie Ganeshnauth, Sirpaul Jaikishun, Abdullah A Ansari and Oudho Homenauth

## Preface

Chapter 7 **Machine Vision Systems – A Tool for Automatic Color Analysis**

Chapter 8 **Automation of Integrated System for Grain Beverages**

Chapter 9 **The Effect of Vermicompost and Other Fertilizers on the**

Chapter 8 **Automation of Integrated System for Grain Beverages**

Chapter 7 **Color Analysis and Image Processing Applied in**

Chapter 9 **The Effect of Vermicompost and Other Fertilizers on the**

Ernesto Martínez Sandoval, Miguel Enrique Martínez Rosas, Jesús Raúl Martínez Sandoval, Manuel Moises Miranda Velasco and

Ernesto Martínez Sandoval, Miguel Enrique Martínez Rosas, Jesús Raúl Martínez Sandoval, Manuel Moises Miranda Velasco and

Gana Ibrahim Mohammed, Ephraim Micheal and Agidi Gbabo

Gana Ibrahim Mohammed, Ephraim Micheal and Agidi Gbabo

**Growth and Productivity of Pepper Plants in Guyana 167** Vasnie Ganeshnauth, Sirpaul Jaikishun, Abdullah A Ansari and

**Growth and Productivity of Pepper Plants in Guyana 167** Vasnie Ganeshnauth, Sirpaul Jaikishun, Abdullah A Ansari and

**in Agriculture 125**

**VI** Contents

**VI** Contents

**Processing 149**

Oudho Homenauth

Oudho Homenauth

Humberto Cervantes De Ávila

Humberto Cervantes De Ávila

**Agriculture 125**

**Processing 149**

According to Prof. Dickson Despommier, by the year 2050, nearly 80% of the earth's popula‐ tion will reside in urban centers. Applying the most conservative estimates to current demo‐ graphic trends, the human population will increase by about 3 billion people during the interim. An estimated 109 hectares of new land (about 20% more land than is represented by the country of Brazil) will be needed to grow enough food to feed them, if traditional farm‐ ing practices continue as they are practiced today. At present, throughout the world, over 80% of the land that is suitable for raising crops is in use (sources: FAO and NASA). Histori‐ cally, some 15% of that has been laid waste by poor management practices. What can be done to avoid this impending disaster?

Emeritus Prof. Dickson Despommier has conducted laboratory-based biomedical research at Columbia University in the USA for 27 years. He said that one possible solution is indoor farming. However, not all crops can easily be moved in an indoor environment. Neverthe‐ less, to secure the food supply for future generations, it is necessary to increase the automa‐ tion level in agriculture significantly either for indoor or for outdoor applications. This book intends to provide the reader with a comprehensive overview of the current state-of-the-art automation in agriculture, featuring an easy-to-follow, vignette-based format that focuses on the most important evidence-based developments in this critically important area.

The book comprises two main sections. In the first section, the impact of the Fourth Industri‐ al Revolution and Trends of Engineering System Evolution on agriculture is described. The Fourth Industrial Revolution will send a ripple effect of far-reaching repercussions through‐ out the labor-intensive field of agriculture. Dr. J. Sung illustrates this effect in Chapter 1. In Chapter 2, my PhD students, F. Knoll (MSc) and V. Czymmek (MSc), explain the influence of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on the field of organic farming. In our research group at the West Coast University of Applied Science, for example, a robot is being researched that automatically removes the weeds in an organic farm. In Chapter 3, Associate Prof. I. Mašín focuses on the so-called trends of engineering system evolution. He describes natural transi‐ tions of the engineering system from one state to another, and they are generally valid for all engineering disciplines. However, he relates this method to agricultural technology. The second section contains industrial automation examples in agriculture. Chapter 4, written by Dr. Z. Zhang, gives a review on variable-rate sprayer applications based on real-time sensor technologies. Variable-rate spraying of the canopy, for example, allows growers to apply an adjusted volume rate of pesticides to the target, based on canopy size, and to apply plant protection products in an economical and environmentally sound manner. In the next chap‐ ter (Chapter 5), Dr. R. R. Shamshiri reports on designing a simulation and control platform for experimenting with sensors and manipulators in robotic harvesting of sweet pepper. The objective was to provide a completely simulated environment for improvement of visual serving tasks through easy testing and debugging of control algorithms with zero damage risk to the real robot and to the actual equipment. Associate Prof. T. Okayasu discusses in his chapter (Chapter 6) a self-fabricated ubiquitous environment control system (UECS). The flexibility and concept of the developed UECS have been very effective to enable sophisticat‐ ed environmental control technology to be applied to small- and medium-scale greenhouses in Japan. In Chapter 7, Dr. J. Martinez describes the use of machine vision systems for auto‐ matic color analysis in agriculture. It could be said that machine vision systems are appro‐ priate to improve the actual agricultural systems making them more useful, efficient, practical, and reliable. The research work of Dr. I. Gana, illustrated in Chapter 8, focuses on the design and the construction of an automatic system for grain beverage processing. The automated system allows an efficient workflow, reduces human labor, and ensures safety and a hygiene production process. In the last chapter (Chapter 9), Prof. A. Ansari points out the effect of vermicompost and other fertilizers on the growth and productivity of pepper plants in Guyana. serving tasks through easy testing and debugging of control algorithms with zero damage risk to the real robot and to the actual equipment. Associate Prof. T. Okayasu discusses in his chapter (Chapter 6) a self-fabricated ubiquitous environment control system (UECS). The flexibility and concept of the developed UECS have been very effective to enable sophisticat‐ ed environmental control technology to be applied to small- and medium-scale greenhouses in Japan. In Chapter 7, Dr. J. Martinez describes the use of machine vision systems for auto‐ matic color analysis in agriculture. It could be said that machine vision systems are appro‐ priate to improve the actual agricultural systems making them more useful, efficient, practical, and reliable. The research work of Dr. I. Gana, illustrated in Chapter 8, focuses on the design and the construction of an automatic system for grain beverage processing. The automated system allows an efficient workflow, reduces human labor, and ensures safety and a hygiene production process. In the last chapter (Chapter 9), Prof. A. Ansari points out the effect of vermicompost and other fertilizers on the growth and productivity of pepper plants in Guyana.

I would like to extend my most sincere gratitude to the authors who have generously con‐ tributed chapters to this book, without whom this project would not have been a success. Furthermore, I would like to thank the West Coast University of Applied Sciences in Heide, Germany, for approving my sabbatical. Otherwise, I would not have been able to edit this book. Also, I would like to give my heartfelt thanks to InTech Publishers, and I look forward to working hopefully with them in many more projects in the future as well. Last but not the least, my appreciation goes to Ms. Martina Usljebrka, the Publishing Process Manager as‐ signed to this book, who has rendered her utmost support in putting the materials together. I would like to extend my most sincere gratitude to the authors who have generously con‐ tributed chapters to this book, without whom this project would not have been a success. Furthermore, I would like to thank the West Coast University of Applied Sciences in Heide, Germany, for approving my sabbatical. Otherwise, I would not have been able to edit this book. Also, I would like to give my heartfelt thanks to InTech Publishers, and I look forward to working hopefully with them in many more projects in the future as well. Last but not the least, my appreciation goes to Ms. Martina Usljebrka, the Publishing Process Manager as‐ signed to this book, who has rendered her utmost support in putting the materials together.

> **Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stephan Hussmann Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stephan Hussmann**

**Section 1**

**Section 1**

**The 4th Industrial Revolution and Trends of**

**The 4th Industrial Revolution and Trends of**

**Engineering System Evolution in Agriculture**

**Engineering System Evolution in Agriculture**

Faculty of Engineering West Coast University of Applied Sciences Heide, Germany Faculty of Engineering West Coast University of Applied Sciences Heide, Germany
