Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

The long-term objective of my research is to focus on developing methods to optimally integrate high-precision multi-spectral imaging sensors with the operation of unmanned systems to create high precision products, inspection tools, and manufacturing processes. In particular, photometry- and radiometry-based metrology for unmanned systems have been drawing a significant attention within the research community since they surpass other sensors known to the man kind in terms of information transfer capacity and the required acquisition/processing time. The missing piece in this puzzle, aside from physical challenges at the manufacturing level, however, is the lack of intelligent, yet robust information filters to deal with the massive data generated by wide-spectrum imaging sensors. The research community is pushing resolutely on developing industry standards for: (1) generating Point Clouds from hyper-spectral images obtained via imaging sensors at different vantage pints, (2) organizing the Point Cloud based on the motion information obtained via the unmanned systems carrying them, and (3) stitching the overlapping Point Clouds together to generate a 3D Structure From Motion (SFM). While there has been some significant work in this area around the visible-light imaging systems, very little has been done on imaging systems beyond visible spectrum. My long-term research plan is to focus and contribute in this area: Design and development of algorithmic procedures for precise metrology when using imaging sensors onboard unmanned mobile systems with a wide spectral range beyond visible light. The applicant and his team will focus on two programs during the projects life cycle as follows: Program one: Development of photometry- and radiometry-based metrology techniques with applications in inspecting infrastructure, industrial processes, and manufacturing. Program two: Photometry- and Radiometry-based metrology for automated and precision agriculture. In program one, the main focus will be 3D reconstruction through Structure From Motion using imaging sensors within an electromagnetic spectrum beyond that in visible light. In particular, the 3D reconstruction of the thermal footprint of an object using thermal cameras will be investigated. In program two, my research plan is to focus on three areas of the automated and precision agronomy as: (1) automated seeding and fertilization, (2) automated weed detection and removal, and (3) autonomous collaborative harvesting. I will focus on algorithmic development of the photometry- and radiometry-based metrology in precision agriculture. I own a 25-hp tractor that was turned to a fully autonomous system in my research lab. Students recruited for this program will have access to this unique automated tractor. To the best of my knowledge, no other research lab provides an experimental setup with this caliber.