Phenotyping Centre
The new facility for leading agricultural university Purdue combines knowledge and capacities to turn phenotyping research into internationally significant results. The aim is to develop higher yielding varieties to continue to feed the world's population. Bosman Van Zaal has developed a Controlled Environmental Phenotyping Facility (CEPF) on the campus of the university with state-of-the-art camera technology and data acquisition techniques.
Among other things, we installed hyperspectral and RGB cameras, fully automated conveyor belts, a climate chamber for 4-metre-high plants, and a fully automated precision watering unit. We had to take into account that the plants, about 260 in total, always must be in the right place and under ideal conditions. Inconsistent conditions between plants during research must be prevented as much as possible in order to obtain pure data. The installation delivers the data very accurately and within narrow error margins, with maximum uptime.
Digital System
During this project, it was important that there were local points of contact 24/7. All components and installations were extensively tested before being assembled. During the start-up, the employees involved were extensively trained in the operation and maintenance of the phenotyping installation.
We worked closely with Purdue University. Various components from different suppliers were brought together into a working system, including from Aris and Indigo Solutions. The realisation was coordinated by PhenoKey and assisted on site by our partner AgriNomix, based in Ohio.