Improvement of thermopile sensor performance for determination of the physiological condition of cucumbers

• Published in: AIP conference proceedings Vol. 2889; no. 1
• Main Authors: Vasilev, Miroslav, Zlatev, Zlatin
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Melville American Institute of Physics 07.12.2023
• Subjects: Cameras; Comparative analysis; Cucumbers; Interpolation; Physiology; Sensors; Thermopiles; Wireless sensor networks
• ISSN: 0094-243X; 1551-7616
• DOI: 10.1063/5.0172953

Wireless sensor networks offer theoretical and practical challenges related to their application capabilities. Leaf temperature is a valuable indicator of the physiological status of plants, corresponding to both biotic and abiotic stressors. The disadvantage of thermal cameras is that they produce large images, which makes them unsuitable for use in wireless sensor network systems. The solution to this problem is the use of thermopile sensors. In the present work, a comparative analysis is made and a suitable method for interpolation of data from a thermopile sensor is selected in the analysis of the physiological state of cucumbers in a period of drought. It was found that a suitable method for interpolation of data from a thermopile sensor for the purpose of their scaling is spline interpolation, because when using it there is a minimal difference in the data from the histograms of the obtained data for the measured temperature of cucumbers compared to those from a thermal camera. A comparative analysis of the obtained results with those from available literature sources was made. Recommendations for the practical application of the obtained results are given and guidelines for future research in the subject area are given.