Does using more smart sensors ensure better crop results?

Added on 25 October 2024

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Does using more smart sensors ensure better crop results?

In a few months, it will be clear which team wins the Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge and thus has developed the best AI algorithm for an autonomously controlled cultivation of dwarf tomatoes. In parallel with the participants, a team of WUR experts also set up a greenhouse for autonomously controlled cultivation. Researcher Pinglin Zhang explains the usefulness of this reference greenhouse and why the additional sensors and cameras deployed by the teams can also provide valuable knowledge for WUR.

In Bleiswijk, dwarf tomatoes are currently growing in five greenhouse compartments controlled by AI algorithms developed by the teams who participate in the Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge. A sixth compartment is also growing dwarf tomatoes, but controlled with input from a team of WUR experts. One of these is researcher Pinglin Zhang. ‘Our compartment we also call the reference greenhouse. Cultivation here is also autonomously controlled, but without AI algorithms. We set up the greenhouse as a regular grower would control the greenhouse. With this reference, we can make a good comparison between the results of greenhouses controlled with AI algorithms and a greenhouse controlled in a commonly used autonomous way.’