2021 Products & Services Guide

RESEARCH & BREEDING

 “SlantRange has proven to be a best-in-class aerial
phenotyping solution and trusted development
and integration partner through multiple seasons
as we scale up our program.
As a result, Syngenta is expanding its use of the
SlantRange platform across multiple business
units and application areas. Their focus on
agriculture and long-term vision for technology
in 21st century agriculture makes them a great
asset in Syngenta’s quest to innovate sustainable
agriculture solutions.”
Dr. Adrian Lund
Principal Research Scientist

2
THE PHENOTYPING & ANALYTICS PLATFORM
FOR RESEARCH & BREEDING

3
Faster, More Efficient Research & Breeding
NEW TECHNOLOGIES IMPROVE CONFIDENCE IN INPUT PERFORMANCE

Input suppliers are reducing the cost, time, and risk Enabled by breakthroughs in remote sensing.
to bring new products to market by improving their Low-altitude remote
statistical confidence in how those products will sensing systems (at or
v
perform in real grower environments. below about 100 m) have
SlantRange's new, low-altitude remote sensing and data distinct advantages over
science technologies automate phenotyping throughout satellites, higher-flying
the plant development cycle, and in response to aircraft, and ground-based h R
changing inputs and environment, to provide researchers systems.
and breeders more accurate and comprehensive data to First, they can produce
support their advancement decisions. very high-resolution
In addition, the SlantRange platform efficiently manages measurements at very low
data collection, aggregation, analysis, and archiving for cost, and resolution is the great enabler for data science
large-scale trials spanning hundreds of trial locations. systems. Specifically, low-altitude sensors can surpass
the critical "Johnson Criteria", or the ability to resolve
Through improved measurement and automation,
individual leaves, without complex optical systems.
suppliers are realizing 5-10% R&D cost reductions while
accelerating time-to-market and revenue generation by Second, the high-resolution image data enables plant
1-2 years. signatures to be isolated ("segmented") from signatures
of the surrounding soils, shadows, weeds, or other field
residue for improved accuracy and sensitivity to changes.
Third, once segmented, individual plants, fruit, or other
features can be classified, counted, and sized. Shape,
morphological structure, and biomass can be analyzed to
further improve the automated characterization of health
and performance.
Lastly, low-altitude systems can be automated for highly
repeatable, very low-cost measurement, enabling new
time-based analyses of plant conditions.
SlantRange's platform incorporates innovations in
spectral and spatial measurement that exploit these
advantages, so input suppliers can more accurately
The high resolution of low altitude remote sensing
determine how traits and treatments will perform under
enables new plant development information
real-world conditions.
4
Spectral Measurements measurements made simultaneously of both light
sources. Without this approach, even minor changes in
“Spectral” imaging can be a powerful tool for agricultural sunlight conditions will impart errors in measurement
measurement and management, if performed accurately that prevent the data's use in downstream analyses.
with adequate measurement and analysis systems.
SlantRange introduced this new aerial sensing technique
The technique measures the amount of sunlight in 2014, thereby enabling the use of spectral imaging for a
absorbed by a plant within specific spectral bands to broad range of agricultural applications.
infer properties of its chemical and physical composition.
US Patents 9,470,579, 9,791,316. Canada Patents
Those properties can then be analyzed against genetic
2,960,375, 3,046,667. Australia Patent 2015315327.
traits, input protocols, and environment to characterize
performance under a given set of conditions and to
predict potential future performance.
Spatial Measurements
Incident Sunlight = Absorbed Sunlight SlantRange incorporates new image processing and
+ Reflected Sunlight data science techniques to classify and segment key
+ Transmitted Sunlight agronomic features within spectral imagery.
In
cid
en ht
tS n lig
un Su
lig ed
ht ct
fle
2.0 Re 1.0
1.8 0.9
12:00 pm
1.6 0.8
Reflected Sunlight, W/m2 nm
Sunlight, W/m2 nm

1.4 0.7
1.2 0.6 12:00 pm
SLANTRANGE IMAGE SATELLITE IMAGE
1 CM GSD 100 CM GSD
1.0 0.5
0.8 4:00 pm 0.4
0.6 0.3
4:00 pm PLANT MORPHOLOGY PLANT SIGNALS MIXED
0.4 0.2 CAN BE MEASURED WITH SOIL
0.2 0.1
- -

These enable accurate new measurements, including:

400 500 600 700 800 900 400 500 600 700 800 900
Wavelength, nm Wavelength, nm

The spectral signature of incident sunlight must be plant/fruit counts, plant/fruit size, canopy density
known to accurately determine plant condition and structure, flowering, maturity, and many others.
SlantRange introduced its first spatial feature-based data
To conduct this measurement accurately, the spectral products in 2015 and continues to innovate valuable new
content of light reflected from the plant canopy is trait measurements each season.
subtracted from the spectral content of the downwelling US Patents 10,318,810, 10,803,313.
sunlight (along with other secondary corrections) using 5
Integrated Measurement Systems
T H E STA RT I N G P O I N T FO R ACCU R AT E PH E N OTYPI N G & FO R ECA ST I N G

Patented Technologies for Measuring

The SlantRange / DJI
Plant Development
Aerial Phenotyping System
Fundamental to any data science system or forecasting model is
Aircraft DJI Matrice Series
a source of accurate raw information. To supply this, SlantRange
Sensor SlantRange 4P+ w/ Precision developed and introduced the industry's first spectral imaging
Navigation Module system with integrated
Spectral Channels 6 sunlight sensors in 2014
for accurate, repeatable
Spectral Range 410 - 950 nm
measurements under variable
Band Positions1 470, 520, 620, 670, 720, 850 nm field conditions.

GSD @ 100 m AGL 2.2 cm In 2018, SlantRange

announced its SKYPORT
Detector Type Si CMOS integration with DJI Matrice
Shutter Type Global series aircraft for improved
automation and reliability.
Onboard Navigation RTK GNSS/IMU with EKF
In 2019, SlantRange integrated RTK GPS and a laser altimeter for
In-Flight Data Setup, Status, Coverage even greater accuracy of plant morphological measurements.
Onboard Storage 64 GB (2 hours) With over 2x higher spatial resolution than its nearest competitor,
SlantRange sensors, unlike alternatives, were designed
Image Format GeoTIFF
specifically for aerial phenotyping.
Band positions are selectable at time or order.
1
US Patents 9,470,579, 9,791,316
Some conditions apply, please call for details.
Canada Patents 2,960,375, 3,046,667
Australia Patent 2015315327

6
New, Expanded Flight & Fleet
Measurement Management
Options for 2021 Plan and manage all of your
data collections easily from
SlantRange's aerial
a centralized flight and
phenotyping platform
fleet management system
now includes support for
offered in partnership with
3rd party measurement
Measure UAS. Whether
systems. Standard
you're managing a single
color (RGB) images are
location or several hundred,
supported for a limited
Measure Ground Control
set of data products, while
automates and simplifies
the DJI P4 Multispectral
logistics.
system can be used for all
applications.

7
Data Science & Data Products
M O R E A C C U R A T E A N A LY S I S , M O R E R E L E V A N T D A T A

SlantRange has developed and patented new data

User-Defined Algorithms
science methods for more accurate and efficient
phenotyping with a broader expanse of data products. The SlantRange platform hosts powerful data science
tools and can be adapted to incorporate user-defined
Segmenting for Accuracy workflows. The analytics engine handles data calibration,
preprocessing, and georeferencing to provide a
Intelligent computer vision techniques ensure that workspace within which new algorithms can be
analysis and results are focused on the crop population, developed, tested, and deployed.
not the surrounding soils, weeds, or residue.

SEGMENTED IMAGE
COLOR IMAGE 1 CM GSD
1 CM GSD
PLANT NDVI = 0.74
SCENE NDVI = 0.46 SOIL NDVI = 0.21

Data Quality Assurance

US Patents 10,318,810, 10,803,313 Throughout the workflow, multiple test stages verify
data completeness and accuracy, beginning at the point
Eliminating Common Errors of data collection and ending with the delivered data
products.
Traditional image stitching is computationally intensive.
It also introduces data artifacts that create errors in
downstream analyses (example below). SlantRange
employs a new method that eliminates image stitching
to deliver more accurate results and a greater diversity of
data products.
US Patent 10,217,188

SlantRange includes multiple stages of data validity

checks for quality assurance (in-field tool shown)

8
Traits and Data Products
Traits and data products are available for sunlight-calibrated multispectral and RGB sensor options. Data product
availability is subject to crop type, maturity, and collection parameters as described below.

If there’s a desired trait or crop application that is not listed, contact us for developmental options. SlantRange is
continually developing solutions upon request.

DATA PRODUCT CORN SOYBEAN WHEAT COTTON CANOLA SORGHUM RICE CUCURBIT
Population (Density, Count)1

Plant Size1

Emergence Fraction
Vegetation Fraction

Chlorophyll Index

Yield Potential2

Vegetation Stress

Maturity2

Flowering

Plant Height

Weed Pressure

Spectral Indices (e.g. NDVI)

Greenness Index

Reflectance Image Chips

RGB (Color) Orthomosaics

Lodging

Products available with RGB (color) or sunlight-calibrated, narrowband multispectral sensors.

Products available only with sunlight-calibrated, narrowband multispectral sensors.
Products available under specific circumstances. Call for details.
1
Available within a maturity window shortly after emergence.
2
Definition varies by crop type.

9
SlantView - AP
T H E F I R ST PL AT FO R M FO R A E R I A L PH E N OTYPI N G

Easy-to-understand results across all of your trials, from emergence...

Manage all of your test locations,

Selectable emergence data products plot boundaries, and plot
variables. View each data set for
a selected location.

Exportable results for

downstream analytics.
API data interface also
available for 3rd party
Color-coded results integrations.
with instant access to
individual plot metrics
High-resolution color
image of the selected
plot. Crop species
plants highlighted
green, weeds
Statistics over all plots highlighted red.

End-to-End Data Platform Trial Configuration

SlantView - AP is the first platform designed for aerial Import the geographic and descriptive attributes of your
phenotyping on an enterprise scale, from aggregating trials directly from your planter or API, or described them
and managing data collections across multiple locations manually to be managed and analyzed together with
to analysis to data visualization and reporting. your aerial data.

10
...through full-season maturity
Selectable stage of growth

Query individual plot statistics

Selectable later-season data products
on a given date

High-resolution
color orthomosaic
of the selected plot
for easier human
interpretability

Time-series records
of individual plot
performance

Management, Analysis, Visualization Data Interfaces

Ensure the timing and quality of your measurements Transfer data into 3rd party or proprietary platforms for
throughout the season with online data status, analysis, further analysis with easy exports and APIs.
and visualization capabilities.

11
Scalable for Efficient Use
in a Single Trial or Hundreds

SlantRange’s aerial phenotyping platform is designed

Custom Analytics
to scale from the needs of a small Contract Research
Organization (CRO) to global agri-business enterprises. SlantRange commonly develops new algorithms to
support the unique needs of its clients. Contact us if you
have a new data requirement.
Analytics Engine Hosting Options
The SlantView - AP analytics engine can be hosted on Drone Program Management
our servers or deployed within your IT infrastructure for
SlantRange’s ecosystem partners offer integrated fleet
tighter integration with the other components of your
management and scheduling for enterprise drone
business.
programs, including:
• Asset management
External APIs • User management, roles, and permissions
APIs are available to exchange data with other platforms: • Scheduling
• Trial management software • Regulatory compliance
• Planter or harvester data • Customized procedures and checklists
• External databases
Data Privacy & Security
Algorithm Support The entire SlantRange Aerial Phenotyping workflow is
The SlantView - AP analytics engine includes the full suite executed with a commitment to maintain the security
of validated SlantRange algorithms but can also host 3rd and privacy of your data. Data transfers and hosting
party algorithms for supported sensors. include 128-bit encryption and firewalls protect your
sensitive information. User roles and permissions can be
implemented if desired.

12
Rigorously Validated, Thoroughly Protected

396
Validated for Accuracy & Reliability
SlantRange's aerial phenotyping technologies have
been more thoroughly validated than any competitive
alternative by the most advanced agricultural research &
breeding organizations in the world.
Following years of pilot programs and field trials, leading
agricultural suppliers trust SlantRange. To date, they've
analyzed nearly 3 million plots across more than 400 trial
locations on 5 continents with the SlantRange platform.
SlantRange is proving that aerial remote sensing and
2,687k
advanced data science can bring higher-performing
inputs to market faster, and at lower cost.
57
1,015k
28 536k
Trial Locations
1 21k
Plots Analyzed
2017 2018 2019 2020
Deployments (cumulative)

Secured Intellectual Property

SlantRange's solution is built upon an extensive portfolio
of patented technologies spanning remote sensing to
data science to computational methods:
• Spectral imaging techniques for accurate data under
variable lighting conditions to enable time-based
studies of plant response to inputs.
• Plant segmentation methods that enable plant
population statistics and studies.
• AI-driven methods that improve collection and
processing efficiency to reduce costs.
SlantRange has secured the IP footing for your digital ag
13 investments.
 Tiered Solutions
for Diverse Needs

Professional Enterprise
Flexible, No-Commitment Analytics Full Service Crop Analytics

Ideal for organizations seeking flexible, Ideal for large organizations seeking
automated solutions to analyze automated, scalable solutions
aerial imagery for a small number to analyze aerial imagery
of trials and locations for several trials and locations

Advanced Analytics
Plot Pattern Generation
Orthomosaic Images
Data Visualization Tools
Data Export Functions
Volume-Based Rates
Unlimted Users
Priority Support
Account Manager
API Access
Custom Algorithms

14
“SlantRange’s broad suite of validated analytics
coupled with their robust intellectual property
portfolio for aerial measurement technologies
made them an ideal partner as we continue to
expand our research and development platform.”
Dr. Peter Lynch
VP of Research

15
 THE PHENOTYPING & ANALYTICS PLATFORM
FOR RESEARCH & BREEDING

4901 Morena Blvd. Suite 701, San Diego, CA 92117 • sales@slantrange.com • +1 858 434 1037 • www.slantrange.com