What is BBLeap LeapEye and how does it contribute to precision agriculture?

BBLeap LeapEye is an advanced camera system enabling real-time scanning and application of crop protection agents. The system continuously analyzes crops in the field or orchard, identifies specific needs per plant, and controls the sprayer accordingly. This allows growers to apply exactly what is needed, instead of an average treatment. The result is more efficient use of resources, less waste, and a more targeted approach that optimizes the health and growth of each individual plant, contributing to more sustainable agriculture.

What applications are possible with BBLeap LeapEye in the field and orchard?

BBLeap LeapEye offers diverse application possibilities for both arable farming and fruit cultivation. In arable farming, through 'PlantLeap', the system facilitates precise spot spraying (green on green and green on brown), potato desiccation, and weed recognition. For fruit growers, under the name 'FruitLeap', LeapEye enables solutions such as blossom thinning, spraying based on tree profiles, treetop recognition, and biomass density analysis. This targeted approach ensures that resources are deployed effectively, tailored to the specific conditions of each plant or tree.

How does BBLeap LeapEye ensure accuracy and what role does data collection play in this?

BBLeap LeapEye ensures accuracy through cameras placed every 3 meters on the spray boom. Each camera measures its height, speed, and vector of movement, which, combined with boom data, creates a very precise boom model. This enables the LeapBox to spray with extreme accuracy. Furthermore, LeapEye collects high-definition photos during each spray job. This data is stored in the cloud, anonymized, and valuable for analyzing crop development, creating timelines, and serving as a basis for the development of crop-specific algorithms by third parties.

How can camera systems improve the efficiency and sustainability of crop spraying?

Camera systems significantly improve the efficiency and sustainability of crop spraying by enabling a targeted approach. Instead of uniform spraying, these systems detect individual plants or specific problems, such as weeds or diseases. This results in a substantial reduction in the consumption of crop protection products, as they are only applied where and when needed. This not only minimizes environmental impact but also lowers operational costs. Furthermore, this precision contributes to healthier crops, higher yields, and more sustainable agricultural practices.

What are important considerations when choosing an advanced spraying system for various agricultural needs?

When choosing an advanced spraying system, various factors are important, depending on agricultural needs. Essential is the system's adaptability for different crops and environments, such as arable farming or orchards. Additionally, real-time scanning capabilities and the ability to integrate and analyze data are crucial for efficient decision-making. Also consider the accuracy of the application, support for crop-specific algorithms, and the modularity of the system. A brand-independent solution that evolves with future needs offers long-term flexibility and a favorable return on investment.

LeapEye - BBLEAP

Real-time scanning and application

LeapEye (TRL5)

Eyes that put your sprayer to work

Sitting in your tractor or sprayer cabin during a spray job, you have a perfect view of your crop. You notice the differences, the ones that grow well, the ones that are struggling. The place where the weeds are dense and where there are hardly any weeds. You are spraying it all and all the same.

What if you could spray what’s needed? What if your sprayer could see what you see? And even more practical, act accordingly? Different circumstances and different stages of the growth season reason require different actions. It looks different each time you pass. Nature is rich in variety and the needs of your crop differ each time. We want you to be able to give your crop what it needs. Not an average, exactly what it needs.

That’s why BBLeap develops LeapEye, a camera system for real-time scanning and application. This will be the first open camera platform to support algorithms from other algorithm developers. This opens the gate to algorithms specifically developed for you.

LeapEye lets you automatically collect photos on the go and is powered by a very strong processing unit. The LeapEye components (cameras and processor) are placed on the boom. Install a camera sensor every 3 meters to get full coverage.

Scan

Scan your trees or crop

Magic

Processing the algorithm

Spray

LeapBox precision spraying

Horizontal accuracy

Each camera will measure its height, its speed, and the vector of its speed relative to the boom. By combining the information from each camera on the boom we have a very accurate boom model. This includes the bending of the boom and the speed of each nozzle. This boom model enables LeapBox, and any LeapEye application to work even more accurately.

“Detections are stored on a high-resolution grid fixed to the machine. When the machine moves, the detections move in the opposite direction on the grid. The machine movement is calculated by determining the forward speed (speed sensor or GPS) and the turning speed (one or two gyroscopes).”

Martijn van Alphen – Leap Creator

Examples of possibilities with LeapEye

PlantLeap

Farming On Plant Level. Field spraying offers many opportunities to make use of our camera system. It’s capable of handling all common working speeds including those of the aussies. Some examples of how you can use our system:

Spot spraying
- Green on green
- Green on brown
Potato desiccation
Weed recognition

FruitLeap

Growing on Fruit Level. Orchard spraying is still subject to average spraying. While you want to secure harvest spraying it all at the same rate can create severe loss to the quality and volume of your fruits. Some examples of how to use LeapEye are:

Blossom thinning
Tree profile
Treetop recognition
Biomass density

Data collection

LeapEye collects data by taking high-definition photos and saving them in the cloud. You can use it for analysis to anticipate the current and next season. It is also open to crop-specific algorithm developers.

Directly from the first spray job, you start to collect data. You can use this data to…
– see how the crop develops
– create a timelapse of the (high cultivation) crops

Can I order LeapEye today? Yes, while LeapEye is in TRL5, it is available for sale. The installation will take place later this year.

“LeapEye is a major step forward in plant level spraying. Our open platform creates a huge opportunity for farmers to get access to algorithms that work for their crop and situation.”

Peter Millenaar – Leap Vision

Future usage: Crop specific algorithms

We want LeapFarmers to work with the best algorithms to get the best results. That means the more specific an algorithm the better it fits local circumstances. Therefore raw data will be available to those who built algorithms upon request. This is an open invitation to developers to develop algorithms for specific crops based on our data. We believe that making data available will facilitate and speed up the pace for taking the LEAP in agriculture. The data will be anonymized and exclude region and field location.

The Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs)

BBLeap values open and transparent communication. This includes the stages of our technologies under development. To communicate our progress we use Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs). TRLs are developed and introduced by NASA in order to be consistent and uniform about communicating technology maturity. LeapEye is identified to be currently in TRL 5. TRL 5 is described as “Component(s) prototype(s) validated in relevant environment”.

About TRLs

Go to LeapBox or explore other BBLeap technologies.

Frequently asked questions:

What is BBLeap LeapEye and how does it contribute to precision agriculture?+−
BBLeap LeapEye is an advanced camera system enabling real-time scanning and application of crop protection agents. The system continuously analyzes crops in the field or orchard, identifies specific needs per plant, and controls the sprayer accordingly. This allows growers to apply exactly what is needed, instead of an average treatment. The result is more efficient use of resources, less waste, and a more targeted approach that optimizes the health and growth of each individual plant, contributing to more sustainable agriculture.
What applications are possible with BBLeap LeapEye in the field and orchard?+−
BBLeap LeapEye offers diverse application possibilities for both arable farming and fruit cultivation. In arable farming, through 'PlantLeap', the system facilitates precise spot spraying (green on green and green on brown), potato desiccation, and weed recognition. For fruit growers, under the name 'FruitLeap', LeapEye enables solutions such as blossom thinning, spraying based on tree profiles, treetop recognition, and biomass density analysis. This targeted approach ensures that resources are deployed effectively, tailored to the specific conditions of each plant or tree.
How does BBLeap LeapEye ensure accuracy and what role does data collection play in this?+−
BBLeap LeapEye ensures accuracy through cameras placed every 3 meters on the spray boom. Each camera measures its height, speed, and vector of movement, which, combined with boom data, creates a very precise boom model. This enables the LeapBox to spray with extreme accuracy. Furthermore, LeapEye collects high-definition photos during each spray job. This data is stored in the cloud, anonymized, and valuable for analyzing crop development, creating timelines, and serving as a basis for the development of crop-specific algorithms by third parties.
How can camera systems improve the efficiency and sustainability of crop spraying?+−
Camera systems significantly improve the efficiency and sustainability of crop spraying by enabling a targeted approach. Instead of uniform spraying, these systems detect individual plants or specific problems, such as weeds or diseases. This results in a substantial reduction in the consumption of crop protection products, as they are only applied where and when needed. This not only minimizes environmental impact but also lowers operational costs. Furthermore, this precision contributes to healthier crops, higher yields, and more sustainable agricultural practices.
What are important considerations when choosing an advanced spraying system for various agricultural needs?+−
When choosing an advanced spraying system, various factors are important, depending on agricultural needs. Essential is the system's adaptability for different crops and environments, such as arable farming or orchards. Additionally, real-time scanning capabilities and the ability to integrate and analyze data are crucial for efficient decision-making. Also consider the accuracy of the application, support for crop-specific algorithms, and the modularity of the system. A brand-independent solution that evolves with future needs offers long-term flexibility and a favorable return on investment.