4 ms·

I am pretty sure modern agriculture does a lot of this based on keeping track of everything (what's planted, how much fertilizer, weather, soil conditions, etc)

by ssully 6y ago

I am pretty sure modern agriculture does a lot of this based on keeping track of everything (what's planted, how much fertilizer, weather, soil conditions, etc). I am not sure the last time you have been on a farm, but setting up a system of static cameras to constantly monitor every individual plant would be very expensive and I am doubtful that it would be any better then what is being done now.

troutwine 6y ago
Absolutely. I really, really wonder how you'd manage to get equipment in under the camera rig. All those cameras are going to look pretty tempting for the folks that normally just steal diesel, not to mention pretty silly flying around in bad weather.
- ngcc_hk 6y ago
  Drone flying? With 20 acres need to fly back and charge ... and some ai software.
  - kube-system 6y ago
    Farmers are already monitoring their crops by sensors in their equipment, in the fields, in drones, and by satellite. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precision_agriculture https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precision_agriculture
londons_explore 6y ago
By "camera rig", I'm talking twenty cameras spaced at 3 foot intervals. Each camera a basic VGA camera at 30 fps, and all hooked up to a cheap computer with a low range GPU to find plants. Cameras cost: $1 each ($20). Wiring: $2 each ($40). Computer cost: $120 (inc 24v PSU). GPU cost: $60. That sort of equipment isn't going to be worth stealing.
- HeyLaughingBoy 6y ago
  Nothing that goes into the field or on a tractor is going to be that cheap if you expect it to last more than a few days.
- Cthulhu_ 6y ago
  And what would be the benefit? Financially I mean. What's the return on investment? And how does it apply to the thousands of square miles of farmland?
  - michaelt 6y ago
    There are precision farming systems that (according to their marketing materials) will allow you to precisely spray fertiliser only at plants, and weedkiller only at weeds. This saves money on chemicals, and helps the environment through reduced run-off. Of course, adoption isn't universal [1] - a large farm will see a much faster payback time for the same bit of equipment, for example. And many farms will have other priorities for their limited capital; tractor auto-steer is much more popular than precision weed control. [1] https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/147418633.pdf https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/147418633.pdf

by ssully 6y ago

troutwine 6y ago

Absolutely. I really, really wonder how you'd manage to get equipment in under the camera rig. All those cameras are going to look pretty tempting for the folks that normally just steal diesel, not to mention pretty silly flying around in bad weather.

ngcc_hk 6y ago
Drone flying? With 20 acres need to fly back and charge ... and some ai software.
- kube-system 6y ago
  Farmers are already monitoring their crops by sensors in their equipment, in the fields, in drones, and by satellite. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precision_agriculture https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precision_agriculture

londons_explore 6y ago

By "camera rig", I'm talking twenty cameras spaced at 3 foot intervals. Each camera a basic VGA camera at 30 fps, and all hooked up to a cheap computer with a low range GPU to find plants. Cameras cost: $1 each ($20). Wiring: $2 each ($40). Computer cost: $120 (inc 24v PSU). GPU cost: $60. That sort of equipment isn't going to be worth stealing.

HeyLaughingBoy 6y ago
Nothing that goes into the field or on a tractor is going to be that cheap if you expect it to last more than a few days.
Cthulhu_ 6y ago
And what would be the benefit? Financially I mean. What's the return on investment? And how does it apply to the thousands of square miles of farmland?
- michaelt 6y ago
  There are precision farming systems that (according to their marketing materials) will allow you to precisely spray fertiliser only at plants, and weedkiller only at weeds. This saves money on chemicals, and helps the environment through reduced run-off. Of course, adoption isn't universal [1] - a large farm will see a much faster payback time for the same bit of equipment, for example. And many farms will have other priorities for their limited capital; tractor auto-steer is much more popular than precision weed control. [1] https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/147418633.pdf https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/147418633.pdf