Grasshopper [Chondracris rosea rosea (De Geer)] Incisors Cutting Edge Contour Data Extraction and Quantitative Analysis

Abstract:

Grasshopper [Chondracris rosea rosea (De Geer)] possesses sharp and serrated incisors that have an advantageous capacity for cutting crops including leaves and stalks. To quantitatively analyze the geometrical structures of the incisors cutting edge, MATLAB digital image processing and edge detection technology were used to obtain incisors outer margin 2-dimensional point cloud from incisors stereomicroscope photograph. Then, the least squares fitting method was used to fit the curves mathematical model and the outer margin curves of incisors which were segmented into five curves. The serrated outline of incisor was fitted and expressed by nine-order polynomial function. Furthermore, the second derivative and curvature of the outer edge curves were calculated. Finally, the geometrical characteristics of grasshopper incisors outer edge curves were analyzed and discussed. In conclusion, the special shaped incisor of grasshopper is a potential prototype that can be exploited to develop new cutting element to cut lignocellulosic biomass more efficiently. These results would be helpful for designing cutting elements on crop harvesting, biomass size reduction and other cutting machinery.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volume 461)
• Pages: 144-151
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.461.144
• Online since: November 2013
• Authors: Chang Ying Li, Hong Lei Jia, Zhi Hong Zhang, Gang Wang, Hong Chang Wang
• Keywords: Edge Detection, Grasshopper, Incisors, Quantitative Analysis

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