Studying how light intercepts photosynthesis
Growing crops indoors can be a tedious task, and many variables need to be accounted for. If the environment is not perfect or comfortable for the plants, farmers, and factories will lose profit. How will they lose profit? Their crops will die, not grow, or become diseased. This leads to less food for consumers, less money for the farmers, and can impact daily life. One of the main concerns when growing crops indoors is the lighting the plants need. One project was set to observe the lighting that is most effective to use for growing plants inside. The research team did this by using 3D laser scanning to study the light.
The objective of this project was to study how the light intercepted with the photosynthetic rate of lettuce. The 3D laser scanning device could measure all of this, which generally would be very difficult to do. This technology was used to study, measure, and produce a simulation that showed the team’s findings.
All of the findings allowed many farmers to see and understand how their system should be set up, which level lighting was most beneficial, and how best to layout the plants. Most of this would have been done by the farmer, and the set up would be from trial and error. This allows farmers to see the evidence and grow healthier and better crops indoors.
What is 3D laser scanning
This is a small handheld device that takes rapid pictures of an area. At the same time, it projects lasers that are measured by the distance they travel. It picks up accurate, microscopic details that are typically hard to get. It can trace other light waves that are naked to the human eye.
3D laser scanning was initially created in the 1960s. It was a giant boxy-looking camera that was nowhere near as accurate as it is now. Due to the inaccuracy and kinks, it was not well adopted until the 1990s. Now it is one of the hottest commodities in the world because of the great uses for it.
What else can you do with 3D laser scanning
The coolest thing about this technology is that it is incredibly versatile. There are so many options for this technology. Here are some of the coolest things you can do with 3D laser scanning.
- Fashion Design- Instead of wasting materials, designers can drape multiple times in virtual reality. This technology is so accurate that it can scan the material and see precisely how it would hang on the mannequin before using any material and having to scrap it.
- Shoe Design- Any foot shape can be scanned and put into a CAD system where custom made shoes can be designed. The neatest part about this? You can 3D print it directly from the program. This uses considerably fewer materials.
- Phones- Now, many tablets and phones have this technology embedded in them. Making it perfect for students studying objects or designers looking at rooms.
There are so many unique possibilities with this technology. 3D laser scanning has come farther than anyone would have ever thought. We can’t wait to see how well our plants grow, eat fresh veggies more often, and we can’t wait to see what this technology helps with next.