Autonomous laser weed eradication
AssigneeCarbon Autonomous Robotic Systems Inc.
InventorsPaul Mikesell, Jonathan Mey, Cory Gabrielsen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are methods, devices, modules, and systems which may be employed for automated weed identification, control, and eradication. These methods, devices, modules, and systems provide an alternative to hand cultivation or chemical herbicides. Devices disclosed herein may be configured to locate, identify, and autonomously target a weed with a beam, such as a laser beam, which may burn or irradiate the weed. The methods, devices, modules, and systems may be used for agricultural crop management or for at-home weed control.
Claims20
A targeting system for autonomous weed eradication comprising:
- a first camera configured to image a surface;
- an emitter configured to emit a beam toward the surface;
- and
- a computing system in communication with the first camera and the emitter, the computing system capable of performing operations comprising:
- receiving, from the first camera, an image of the surface, the image comprising a weed on the surface,
- identifying a region in the image that includes the weed,
- determining a target location of the weed based on the identified region in the image,
- aligning an optical path of the beam based on the target location of the weed, and
- causing the emitter to emit the beam toward the weed when at least part of the optical path is aligned with the target location of the weed, wherein emitting the beam towards the weed kills or damages the weed.
A method for autonomously killing a weed, the method comprising:
- receiving a image of a surface, the image comprising the weed on the surface;
- identifying a region in the image that includes the weed;
- determining a target location of the weed based on the identified region in the image;
- aligning an optical path of a beam based on the target location of the weed;
- and
- causing an emitter to emit the beam toward the weed when at least part of the optical path is aligned with the target location of the weed, wherein emitting the beam towards the weed kills or damages the weed.
A system for autonomous weed eradication, the system comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- a memory having programming instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by the processor, causes the system to perform operations comprising:
- receiving a image of a surface, the image comprising a weed on the surface,
- identifying a region in the image that includes the weed,
- determining a target location of the weed based on the identified region in the image,
- adjusting a position of an actuator to align an optical path of a beam based on the target location of the weed, and
- causing an emitter to emit the beam at least part of the optical path is aligned with the target location of the weed, wherein emitting the beam towards the weed kills the weed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.