Analysis of the Current Situation and Trends of Optical Sensing Technology Application for Facility Vegetable Life Information Detection

The production of facility vegetables is of great significance but there are still limitations to this production in terms of yield and quality. Optical sensing technology offers a rapid and non-destructive solution for phenotypic analysis, which is superior to traditional destructive methods. This article reviews and analyzes nine optical sensing technologies, including RGB imaging, and introduces the application of various algorithms in combination with detection principles throughout the entire growth cycle as well as key phenotypic characteristics of facility vegetables. Each technology has its advantages. For example, RGB and multi/high-spectrum technologies are the most frequently used while thermal imaging is particularly suitable for early detection of non-biological and biological stress responses, and these technologies can effectively obtain physiological, biochemical, yield, and quality information about crops. However, current research mainly focuses on laboratory verification and there is still a significant gap when it comes to practical production. Future progress will depend on the integration of multiple sensing technologies, data analysis based on artificial intelligence, and improvements in model interpretability. These developments will be crucial for ultimately achieving precise breeding and intelligent greenhouse management systems, and will gradually transition from basic phenotypic analysis to comprehensive decision support systems.