Sentera Introduces Updated Multispectral Quad Sensor for Precision Agriculture

By Mike Ball / 12 Jul 2017
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Sentera Quad SensorSentera has introduced the latest update to its high-precision sensor product line, the Quad Sensor. Featuring four fully customizable imagers, the multispectral Quad Sensor is a precision agriculture data collection solution.

In its standard configuration, the sensor offers standard Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Green NDVI, Normalized Difference Red Edge (NDRE), and high-resolution color data capture in a single flight. Simultaneous collection of NDVI and NDRE data provides users with informative, accurate insights about crop health while streamlining operations. Custom filtering options provide a wide array of configuration options.

Sentera’s Quad Sensor is used by universities, researchers, large growers, and advisors to provide high-precision, low-distortion vegetative health data tailored for unique applications. This update improves throughput and imager performance and updates packaging for simplified integration with common drone platforms.

The agriculture industry continually introduces new seed varieties, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and technology – it is perpetually evolving. With continual advancements to the agriculture landscape, tools used to evaluate crop health vigor and to detect issues in crops must be flexible and develop just as rapidly. Sentera’s latest sensor supports industry crop health needs before they are widely commercialized.

Kris Poulson, vice president of agriculture for Sentera, explained: “The Quad Sensor’s innovative technology can add incredible value to several agriculture applications. Individuals on the leading-edge of development seek technology that is both tailored to an application and intuitive to use. With our Quad Sensor, customers with unique vegetation indices requirements have a solution.”

“We designed the Quad Sensor with the university, researcher worker, and scientist in mind,” commented Ryan Nelson, chief mechanical engineer for Sentera. “The sensor needed to be customizable and offer users an outstanding opportunity to configure a powerful sensor to their exact specifications. The Quad Sensor allows targeting of specific vegetative indices, something not easily accomplished using other, commercially available sensors.”

The filters in all four of the Quad Sensor imagers are completely customizable. Customers work directly with Sentera or an authorized reseller to configure filter and band requirements.

According to Dr. Ian MacRae, Department of Entomology Professor, University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, “Sentera has worked with us to develop, manufacture, and deploy sensors that have refined our understanding of how insects and disease affect the spectral response of agricultural crops. As our research continues, Sentera has responded, ensuring we get customized sensors that can accurately and reliably collect the data we need.”

The Quad Sensor integrates with multiple commercial drones including the DJI Inspire 1 and Phantom 3, 3DR Solo, and the Sentera Phoenix fixed-wing platforms.

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Posted by Mike Ball Mike Ball is our resident technical editor here at Unmanned Systems Technology. Combining his passion for teaching, advanced engineering and all things unmanned, Mike keeps a watchful eye over everything related to the unmanned technical sector. With over 10 years’ experience in the unmanned field and a degree in engineering, Mike’s been heading up our technical team here for the last 8 years. Connect & Contact