A Computer Vision Approach to Plant Growth Monitoring in an Embedded CubeSat Module

The investigation and development of space-based food production systems are essential to improve the reliability and availability of fresh sustenance for astronauts. With their compact size and low-cost production, CubeSats can provide a unique platform for plant-based in-space experiments. Additionally, the combination of CubeSats and computer vision can allow for monitoring the health of plants during their growth cycles. This paper investigates the electronics and data handling of a crop growth module, otherwise referred to as an environmental monitoring and control subsystem (EMCS), as well as the integration of computer vision techniques for plant growth and development. Using the Otsu thresholding and holistically-nested edge detection algorithms, image segmentation and edge detection were performed, respectively. A support vector machine (SVM) was also employed to classify foliage and provide feedback on the plant’s health. The results from the system show that the computer vision approach can accurately predict the health of the plants based on color and texture. This study builds a foundation for future plant health monitoring research in deep space environments.