Imagine a camera that can see things the human eye misses, like a fever in a plant before it looks sick. It uses special tiny crystals to capture light and AI to spot diseases in apple trees instantly. This system is mounted on a robot tractor to scan fields automatically, telling the farmer exactly where to treat.
High costs of hyperspectral cameras and the inability to detect crop diseases early lead to excessive pesticide use and crop loss in horticulture.
A low-cost SWIR hyperspectral camera using quantum dots, deep-learning analysis software, and a real-time decision support system integrated into an autonomous tractor.
If you are a commercial orchard operator dealing with crop loss from undetected diseases — this project developed a hyperspectral camera and AI system that identifies plant health issues in real-time. This allows for targeted treatment instead of spraying the whole field.
If you are an agricultural robot manufacturer dealing with expensive sensor costs — this project developed a quantum dot detector that reduces component costs by approximately 99%. This makes high-end spectral imaging affordable for autonomous tractor integration.
If you are a crop protection provider dealing with EU regulations to reduce chemical use — this project developed a decision support system that identifies early-stage diseases. This enables a shift toward integrated pest management and sustainable farming.
The project uses lead- and mercury-free quantum dot technology to reduce component costs by approximately 99% compared to existing solutions.
The system is being verified on an existing autonomous tractor under realistic conditions in several orchard types to ensure it can scale to industrial use.
Based on available project data, specific licensing terms are not provided, but the project involves 8 industry partners and 4 SMEs developing the integrated solution.
Yes, the quantum dots used are lead- and mercury-free, ensuring compliance with EU regulations.
A data management and correlation system presents diagnoses and required measures directly to the farmer in real-time.
The project is heavily industry-driven with a 62% industry ratio, comprising 8 companies including 4 SMEs. This strong commercial presence, led by Fraunhofer, suggests a high focus on market viability and practical integration rather than pure academic research.
Contact Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Angewandten Forschung EV
Contact us to connect with the HORTIQD consortium for licensing or pilot opportunities.
