Evaluation of low-cost depth cameras for precision livestock farming applications

I. C.F.S. Condotta, T. M. Brown-Brandl, J. P. Stinn, K. O. Silva-Miranda

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Low-cost depth-cameras have been used in many PLF applications. The cameras use one or a combination of three technologies: structured light, time of flight (TOF), and stereoscopy. The objectives were to evaluate different technologies for depth sensing including measuring accuracy and repeatability of distance data and measurements at different positions within the image, and cameras usefulness in indoor and outdoor settings. Then, each camera was tested in a swine facility. Five different cameras were used: (1) Microsoft Kinect v.1, (2) Microsoft Kinect v.2, (3) Intel® RealSense™ Depth Camera D435, (4) ZED Stereo Camera (StereoLabs), and (5) CamBoard Pico Flexx (PMD Technologies). Results indicate that there were significant differences for all cameras (P < 0.05), except for TOF cameras (Kinect v.2 and Flexx). All cameras showed an increase in the standard deviation as the distance between camera and object increased; however, the Intel camera had a larger increase. TOF cameras had the smallest error between different sizes of objects. All cameras showed some distortion at the edges of the images. TOF cameras had non-readable zones on the corners of the images. All cameras except ZED captured a recognisable image of a pig within the swine facility. In conclusion, understanding the errors associated with each type of technology is needed. It appears from these results that the time-of-flight technology is the best to be used for indoor PLF applications.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationPrecision Livestock Farming 2019 - Papers Presented at the 9th European Conference on Precision Livestock Farming, ECPLF 2019
EditorsBernadette O'Brien, Deirdre Hennessy, Laurence Shalloo
PublisherOrganising Committee of the 9th European Conference on Precision Livestock Farming (ECPLF), Teagasc, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre
Pages503-510
Number of pages8
ISBN (Electronic)9781841706542
StatePublished - 2019
Externally publishedYes
Event9th European Conference on Precision Livestock Farming, ECPLF 2019 - Cork, Ireland
Duration: Aug 26 2019Aug 29 2019

Publication series

NamePrecision Livestock Farming 2019 - Papers Presented at the 9th European Conference on Precision Livestock Farming, ECPLF 2019

Conference

Conference9th European Conference on Precision Livestock Farming, ECPLF 2019
Country/TerritoryIreland
CityCork
Period8/26/198/29/19

Keywords

  • Depth sensors
  • Image technology
  • Stereoscopic
  • Structured light
  • Time of flight

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Animal Science and Zoology

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