Unwanted plant removal system having variable optics
AssigneePalo Alto Research Center Incorporated
InventorsTimothy David Stowe, Patrick Yasuo Maeda, Tim Curley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of an apparatus and methods can removing unwanted plants or weeds from an area such as an agricultural plot or lawn. The apparatus includes a three-dimensional imager configured to capture plant images and locate plants; an image processor configured to distinguish between wanted and unwanted plants based upon the captured plant images; at least one laser device configured to emit a laser beam having power sufficient to damage the unwanted plants; a guidance system configured to direct at least one laser beam toward the unwanted plant; and a chassis configured to support the three-dimensional imager, the laser device, and the guidance system. The chassis is configured to be moved across the area.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- an imager configured to capture plant images;
- an image processor configured to distinguish between a wanted plant and an unwanted plant based on the captured plant images;
- at least one laser device configured to emit a laser beam having power sufficient to damage a target on the unwanted plant, the at least one laser device having at least one of a variable depth of field, a variable width of field, a variable focal length, or a combination thereof;
- a guidance system configured to direct the laser beam towards the target on the unwanted plant, the guidance system comprising a non-mechanical phased array beam steering module coupled to a cylindrical-shaped MEMS mirror adaptive optical element;
- a phase modulator configured to modulate the phase of the at least one laser beam;
- a phase grating configured to redirect the phase modulated at least one laser beam to the unwanted plant;
- and
- a chassis configured to support at least the imager and the at least one laser device, wherein the chassis is configured to be moved across an area.
An apparatus comprising:
- an imager configured to capture plant images;
- an image processor configured to distinguish between a wanted plant and an unwanted plant based on the captured plant images;
- at least one laser device configured to emit a laser beam having power sufficient to damage a target on the unwanted plant;
- a guidance system configured to direct the laser beam towards the target on the unwanted plant, the guidance system comprising a non-mechanical phased array beam steering module coupled to a cylindrical-shaped MEMS mirror adaptive optical element;
- a chassis configured to support at least the imager and the at least one laser device, wherein the chassis is configured to be moved across an area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.