Picketa Systems has two different types of units, a Mobile LENS Unit and a Stationary LENS unit. These two units will have slightly different set ups, but both are comprised of the same hardware. The Mobile LENS Unit will require very little set up and most of the hardware is hidden beneath the metal plate and does not need to be touched. This is a list of each piece of hardware included in each LENS unit:
- 2 data collection units (A)
- A laptop (B)
- A probe (C)
- 2 USB cords (D)
- Black switch for the probe (E)
- Black mat (F)
- A Fiber optic cable (G)
- A power Cable for the probe (H)
- Laptop Charger
First, make sure your laptop is charged and turn the power on. You may want to also set up your Wi-Fi connection. Then you can connect the two USB cords to the laptop on one end, and to the two data collection units on the other end. Then you can take out your fiber optic cable (either blue or grey). Please keep any safety caps in a safe place as they are important for maintaining your hardware. The side of the cable that splits into two cords will be screwed into the two data collection units. The other side of the fiber optic cable with be screwed into the probe. Next you will need to plug the probe switch into the top port of the probe. Then connect the power cord for the probe into the end of the switch. Make sure to also connect the power cord into a power source.
If you are using a Mobile LENS Unit, most of your hardware will come already connected. Make sure that your laptop is charge and that you have a power source for the probe before taking your unit out to the field.
You may also need to set up your Wi-Fi connection. If no connection is available in your location, you can still scan leaves in Picketa’s offline mode and upload the scans once you have access to Wi-Fi.
Scanning
To start scanning your leaves, open the Picketa Desktop Application that has been preinstalled on your laptop. This application should open on its own when starting up the laptop, but if not, double click on the desktop icon to open the app. To log in you will use the same credentials you use to log in to the web application. Any farms and fields you’ve created on the web application will be populated in the drop-down menu. On this main page, select the farm, field, harvest, and scanning location of the leaflets you are about to scan.
Next, Refresh the Spectrometers to change the device status from red to green. If the status remains red after refreshing, there may be an issue with your hardware set up. Make sure that all the cords are connected properly and try again.
Once you have everything selected and the spectrometers are active, you will need to calibrate the probe. Follow the directions on the screen to complete this step. You will first be asked to turn the probe light on and place the probe in its cap. The cap will act as a white background measurement. Once the probe is in the cap, click the button with the lightbulb icon and wait until the next prompt appears on the screen.
Next it will prompt you to turn off the probe light and take a dark background measurement. For this, you will use the black mat provided in the case. Once ready, click the button again and wait until the measurement is complete and the screen prompts you to start scanning.
Don’t forget to turn the spectrometer’s light back on before scanning leaflets. Use the black mat included in the box as a background for scanning your leaflets. Place the leaflets on the mat, then place the probe over the leaflet and click the green button with the leaf icon. Each sample must include at least 10 scans, up to a maximum of 50. The leaf icons above the button will indicate how many scans have been completed. Your leaflet tissue must be at least 1 cm by 1 cm in size for a proper analysis to occur. Once you’ve finished scanning, click the green button with the check mark to submit the scan.
If you are scanning in Picketa’s offline mode, you’re scans will be cached. Once you have access to the internet, click the menu icon in the top left-hand corner of your screen.
This page will show you all your previous scans and if they have been uploaded to the platform or not. Look under the Status column to see if the scan is still cached or if it has been validated. If the scan is still cached, click on the specific scan status to proceed with the upload. This page also shows you the date, location, field, and farm of each scan.
You also have the option to reload ALL scans or view the scan data in full screen by clicking the icon above.