# US 2020/0205394 A1 · Apparatus for weed control > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0205394 A1 - Document ID: US20200205394A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/628,846 - Filed: 2018-07-02 - Published: 2020-07-02 - Earliest claimed: 2017-07-06 - Assignees: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft - Applicants: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Pascal DAY; Thomas ARIANS; Virginie GIRAUD; James HADLOW; Hinnerk BAßFELD - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200205394A1 ## CPC - A01M 21/043: {by chemicals} - A01M 7/00: Special adaptations or arrangements of liquid-spraying apparatus for purposes covered by this subclass - E01H 11/00: Control of undesirable vegetation on roads {or similar surfaces} or permanent ways of railways, {e.g. devices for scorching weeds or for applying herbicides}(destruction of undesirable vegetation in general A01M7/00 - A01M15/00, A01M21/00; weeding involving working the ballast E01B27/00; mowers for embankments A01D34/86; hedge shearing machines A01G3/04); Applying liquids, e.g. water, weed-killer bitumen, to permanent ways (specially to rails E01H8/10 {E01H8/105, E01H8/125}; for preserving sleepers E01B31/20) - G05B 15/02: electric - G06F 18/24: Classification techniques - G06Q 50/02: Agriculture; Fishing; Forestry; Mining - G06T 7/0008: {checking presence/absence} - G06T 7/70: Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras (camera calibration G06T7/80) - G06V 20/188: {Vegetation} - G06V 20/56: exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle - H04N 23/54: Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils - G06T 2207/30188: Vegetation; Agriculture - A01M: CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS (appliances for catching swarms or drone-catching A01K57/00; fishing A01K69/00 - {A01K99/00}; biocides, pest repellants or attractants A01N); APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS - E01H: STREET CLEANING; CLEANING OF PERMANENT WAYS; CLEANING BEACHES; DISPERSING {OR PREVENTING} FOG IN GENERAL {CLEANING STREET OR RAILWAY FURNITURE OR TUNNEL WALLS}(cleaning in general B08B) - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An apparatus for weed control includes a processing unit that receives at least one image of an environment. The processing unit analyses the at least one image to determine at least one mode of operation of a vegetation control technology from a plurality of modes of operation of the vegetation control technology to be used for weed control for at least a first part of the environment. An output unit outputs information that is useable to activate the vegetation control technology in the at least one mode of operation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for weed control, comprising a processor configured to: receive from an input at least one image of an environment; analyze the at least one image to determine at least one mode of vegetation control from a plurality of modes of vegetation control to be used for weed control for at least a first part of the environment; and output information for activating the determined at least one mode of vegetation control. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein analysis of the at least one image to determine the at least one mode of vegetation control comprises a determination of at least one location of vegetation in the at least first part of the environment, and wherein the processor is configured to determine the at least one mode of vegetation control to be used at the at least one location. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one image was acquired by at least one camera, and wherein the processor is configured to receive from the input at least one location associated with the at least one camera when the at least one image was acquired. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein analysis of the at least one image to determine the at least one mode of vegetation control comprises a determination of at least one type of weed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to determine at least one location of the at least one type of weed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein analysis of the at least one image to determine the at least one mode of vegetation control comprises a determination of a first type of weed in the at least first part of the environment and a determination of a second type of weed in at least a second part of the environment. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to analyze the at least one image to determine a first mode of vegetation control to be used for weed control for the first type of weed in the at least first part of the environment; and wherein the processor is configured to analyze the at least one image to determine a second mode of vegetation control to be used for weed control for the second type of weed in at least a second part of the environment. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to analyze the at least one image to determine a first mode of vegetation control to be used for weed control for the at least first part of the environment; and wherein the processor is configured to analyze the at least one image to determine a second mode of vegetation control to be used for weed control for at least a second part of the environment. ### Claim 9 A system for weed control, comprising: at least one camera configured to acquire at least one image of an environment; a vegetation control technology mounted on a vehicle, wherein the vegetation control technology is configured to operate in a plurality of modes of operation; and an apparatus comprising a processor configured to: receive from the at least one camera the at least one image of the environment, analyze the at least one image to determine at least one mode of operation from the plurality of modes of operation of the vegetation control technology to be used for weed control for at least a first part of the environment, and output information to activate the vegetation control technology in the determined at least one mode of operation for the at least first part of the environment. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is mounted on the vehicle; and wherein the at least one camera is mounted on the vehicle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the vegetation control technology comprises a plurality of units, and wherein the plurality of units are configured to operate in the plurality of modes of operation. ### Claim 12 A method for weed control, comprising: receiving by a processor at least one image of an environment; analyzing by the processor the at least one image to determine at least one mode of vegetation control from a plurality of modes of vegetation control to be used for weed control for at least a first part of the environment; and outputting information by the processor to activate the determined at least one mode of vegetation control. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein analyzing the at least one image comprises determining at least one location of vegetation in the at least first part of the environment; and wherein the method comprises determining by the processor the at least one mode of vegetation control to be used at the at least one location. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one image was acquired by at least one camera; and wherein the method comprises receiving by the processor at least one location associated with the at least one camera when the at least one image was acquired. ### Claim 15 A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: receive from an input at least one image of an environment; analyze the at least one image to determine at least one mode of vegetation control from a plurality of modes of vegetation control to be used for weed control for at least a first part of the environment; and output information activating the determined at least one mode of vegetation control.