New PhenoMobile gets rolling at APPN UQ
The Australian Plant Phenomics Network team at our University of Queensland Node has just completed the set-up of their exciting new PhenoMobile ground-based phenotyping rover.
Based on a Zurn High Clearance Tool Carrier, the platform is able to operate over a wide range of maturing crops – from legumes and winter cereals to larger grain species such as sorghum. It has also been equipped with active lighting, to ensure measurements remain consistent regardless of ambient light conditions.
Developed by Hiphen in France, the onboard plant phenotyping system includes three LiDAR sensors – one at a 45-degree angle and two looking directly down – plus a thermal camera, three RGB cameras and a spectrometer.
Together, this array enables the collection of high-density 3D structural measurements, spectral signatures, and RGB-based feature extraction from subject plants.
The thermal camera will be especially useful for measuring crop canopy temperature, which can be used to assess plant water requirements, water use efficiency and responses to drought stress.
Now in its commissioning phase, where the systems will be tested and calibrated, the PhenoMobile should be fully operational by early 2026.
It will be available to APPN users at UQ Gatton for highly automated phenotyping of trial plots – delivering new levels of phenotyping scale, accuracy and repeatability to crop improvement and breeding projects.
Needless to say, the UQ team is very excited about their new capability and the research insights it will enable.
To learn more, contact the APPN UQ Node here.
6 November 2025
