Stereoscopic Vision for Agriculture

Although the principles of stereoscopy have been known since the nineteen century, only after the turn of this century did technology allow the real time implementation of stereo correlation algorithms and cost-effective imaging sensors, leading to the advent of commercial stereo cameras. The richness of visual information available through 3D perception has converted binocular stereo in an essential resource for field robotics and vehicle automation. This book analyzes the most attractive applications of stereoscopic vision to agriculture, with special emphasis in automatic navigation, safety, obstacle detection and awareness, three-dimensional mapping from ground or airborne imagery, and future uses within the framework of Precision Farming. Stereoscopic Vision for Agriculture will be of great interest to engineers and researchers working in agricultural equipment, robotics, and computer vision, as well as to graduate students of electronics, mechanical, and agricultural engineering.