Plant Fluorescence Sensor

Aerodyne Research, Inc.

Billerica, MA

Real-time, direct monitor of plant health manifested by chlorophyll fluorescence. This simple, rugged and field deployable device uses a spectral (Fraunhofer) line discriminator for the passive sensing of sunlight excited fluorescence, suitable for observing vegetation canopies

• Three experimental prototypes produced using off the shelf components.
• Field tests conducted in citrus groves and bean hydroponic gardens in Florida, soybean and corn plots in Mississippi and corn fields in Nebraska, indicate that the PFS is capable of pre-visual detection of plant stress (resulting from water and nitrogen deficiencies.)
• Aerodyne has invested $100,000 to date (Oct 98) in technical and business development. Further funding will come through our recently awarded Department of Energy SBIR Phase I grant to utilize the PFS as a carbon sequestration monitor.
• Publication: Kebabian, P.L., Theisen, A.F., Kallelis, S. and Freedman, A. (1998), A Passive Two-Band Sensor for Sunlight-Excited Plant Fluorescence, Rev. Scien. Instrumen., in review.

• Aerodyne has received US Patent #5,567,947 (issued Oct. 22, 1996) for a "Spectral line discriminator for passive detection of fluorescence."
• Most of the market/user requirements in agricultural remote sensing have been identified and a relationship established, market segments are defined and likely early customers identified.
• Business Plan: Under development, with a firm understanding of questions to be addressed.
• Target Market Segments: Site specific agriculture, irrigation on demand, hydroponic growing environments, and ecological monitoring including soil remediation and coastal remote sensing
• Number of the firm’s full-time job equivalents associated with the venture: 5.
• Competitive Advantages: Patented technology; Core components are passive with minimal moving parts; Core components are relatively inexpensive; Simple design compact, rugged and light weight; Reliable all components are based on established technology and readily available at competitive prices; System is small, robust and easy to operate; Sensing concept based upon fundamental process of photosynthesis; Immediate data feedback; and, Ground-based or airborne applications.

• This unique remote sensing product falls at the very center of the NASA Earth Sciences Enterprise (ESE) and is directly representative of the Memorandum of Understanding between NASA and the USDepartment of Agriculture for joint applications research and technology transfer in agriculture, forestry, and other natural resources management. Furthermore, this technology supports the ESE commitment to the US Global Change Research Program.
• Applications of immediate benefit to NASA, the USDA, and the private sector include: Vegetation characterization and monitoring (crop condition assessment); Damage assessment (in response to a variety of stressors); and, Precision agriculture (detection of unusual conditions). Expectations are that passive remote sensing of plant fluorescence will be proven as a reliable and readily available tool for the early detection of plant stress, thereby allowing for corrective measures and the realization of substantial improvements in yield

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