Image sensors for agriculture: Innovations and Challenges 

Precision farming in the digital age 

The use of image sensors has become increasingly important in agriculture in recent years, particularly in the context of precision farming. This development has led to a data-driven transformation: instead of treating fields as homogeneous areas, modern sensors enable targeted analysis at the plant level. The ability to assess the condition of crops, detect pest infestation at an early stage, and better predict yields using precise optical methods is crucial. Agriculture is thus faced with the challenge of meeting ever-increasing demands in terms of productivity, sustainability, and resource efficiency. Visual sensor systems are considered a key technology because they reliably provide high-quality data for intelligent decision-making, even under difficult environmental conditions such as changing light conditions, extreme temperatures, or mechanical stress. 

Key applications: From harvesting to weed control 

Typical application scenarios for image sensors today range from continuous plant monitoring and targeted resource management to harvest automation. For example, sensors are used to determine the health of plants or their water and nutrient requirements with the aid of spectral analysis. Automated harvesting and fertilization vehicles also benefit from integrated machine vision, which makes work processes more efficient and precise. Sensors can also help with weed control: using multispectral imaging, they can distinguish between crops and weeds in the field, enabling the precise and resource-efficient application of pesticides. 

Challenges: Environment, lighting, and system integration 

Image sensors in agriculture must meet particularly high requirements. In addition to extreme temperature fluctuations, dust, and humidity, agriculture is characterized by constantly changing light conditions – from bright sunlight to twilight. Added to this are mechanical stresses caused by vibrations on mobile platforms such as tractors or drones. Another key issue is the integration of sensors into existing hardware and software environments, for example when image data needs to be processed in real time and linked to other information from the farm. 

Sensor technologies and practical system integration 

Manufacturers such as Sony offer a wide range of image sensors that fit the demanding requirements of agricultural applications. Prominent developments include the IMX900 global shutter sensor, Starvis 2 rolling shutter sensors, and the IMX454 multispectral sensor. The IMX900 global shutter minimizes motion blur with high vibrations, and it features increased sensitivity in the near-infrared (NIR) range, which is particularly relevant for analyzing plant vitality and signs of stress, as plants reflect NIR radiation differently than visible light. The IMX900 supports a much larger incident angle that allows more open lenses and flexible choice of optical systems. Single shot Quad HDR can easy manage typical outdoor situations in agriculture where both strong light on the top of a plant and dark shadows from the bottom are present in the same image.. 

Powerful sensor technologies for practical use 

Starvis  and Stavis 2sensors, originally used in security surveillance, offer exceptional speed, high sensitive even in NIR and, thanks to DOL_HDR (digital overlap HDR), are particularly suitable for applications where movement and changing lighting conditions play a role. Color reproduction and detail accuracy are maintained, which is essential for analytical evaluation methods in plant medicine and weed detection. 

The IMX454 multispectral sensor goes one step further. It captures up to 41 different wavelengths as separate image channels and can thus detect the finest differences in color nuances and material properties, right down to determining relative spectral fingerprint of objects in the scene and precisely distinguishing between crops and weeds. For system integration, solutions are available that range from pure sensor selection to complete camera or embedded vision module development, including implementation on platforms such as NVIDIA, NXP, or even Raspberry Pi. Individual requirements such as real-time processing, calibration, and dynamic adjustment of sensor functions play a decisive role for reliable use in the field. 

Support from system partners 

The combination of advanced sensor technology and comprehensive system support from engineering partners enables farmers and developers to implement tailor-made solutions for the agricultural industry. Experts accompany users from the selection and calibration of the sensor to the appropriate optics, integration into existing control environments, and user training. 

Image sensor technology opens enormous innovation potential in agriculture. Applications such as automated plant monitoring, targeted nutrient application, harvest automation, and efficient weed control contribute to significantly increasing the efficiency and sustainability of production. The challenge lies in adapting and robustly integrating the right sensor technology. Modern sensor solutions combine high data quality, flexibility, and reliability under demanding conditions – thus laying the foundation for future-oriented, digital agriculture.