Weed control device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10548306-B2
Application number	US-201615576914-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 19, 2016
Priority date	May 29, 2015
Publication date	Feb 4, 2020
Grant date	Feb 4, 2020

Abstract

A device for damaging weed is provided, the device having a working tool, which is designed to damage the weed; a classification unit, which has positional data of the weed and/or which is designed to detect weeds; a localization unit, which is designed to ascertain a relative position between the working tool and the weed; and a manipulator unit, which is designed to correspondingly position the working tool as a function of the ascertained relative position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for damaging weeds, comprising:
a working tool designed to damage the weed;
a classification unit at least one of: (i) having positional data of the weed, and (ii) being designed to detect the weed;
a localization unit designed to ascertain a relative position between the working tool and the weed; and
a manipulator unit designed to correspondingly position the working tool as a function of the ascertained relative position;
wherein the working tool is configured to exert a pulse-type pressure in order to damage the weed, and wherein the working tool is a mechanical stamp.

2. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the classification unit at least one of: (i) has the positional data of the weed in the form of a map, and (ii) detects the weed with the aid of at least one of a camera unit and a laser unit.

3. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the localization unit ascertains the relative position between the working tool and the weed with the aid of at least one of a camera unit and a laser unit.

4. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the localization unit is disposed on the manipulator unit next to the working tool.

5. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the manipulator unit has at least two manipulators each having at least one working tool.

6. The device as recited in claim 5 , wherein the at least two manipulators are developed to actuate the working tools independently of one another and to move them within defined working areas.

7. The device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the work areas of the working tools extend parallel to one another.

8. The device as recited in claim 7 , wherein the working areas of the working tools extend at least one of next to one another and at an offset from one another in a driving direction of the device.

9. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the mechanical stamp is configured to mechanically press the weed into the ground.

10. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the manipulator is configured to move the mechanical stamp in all three spatial dimensions.

11. A method for damaging weed, the method comprising:
providing a working tool, the working tool includes a mechanical stamp;
ascertaining a position of a weed the aid of a classification unit, which at least one of: (i) has positional data of the weed in the form of a map, and (ii) detects the weed with the aid of at least one of a camera unit and a laser unit;
ascertaining a relative position between the working tool and the weed with the aid of a localization unit which includes a camera unit;
positioning the working tool as a function of the ascertained relative position with the aid of a manipulator unit; and
damaging the weed using pulse-type application of pressure by the mechanical stamp to the weed.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein the damaging the weed step includes the stamp mechanically pressing the weed into the ground.

Assignees

• Bosch Gmbh Robert

Inventors

• Albert Amos
• Michaels Andreas

Classifications

• A01M21/00 Primary

  Apparatus for the destruction of unwanted vegetation, e.g. weeds (control of undesirable vegetation on roads or permanent ways of railways E01H11/00) · CPC title

• A01M7/00

  Special adaptations or arrangements of liquid-spraying apparatus for purposes covered by this subclass · CPC title

• A01M21/04

  Apparatus for destruction by steam, chemicals, burning, or electricity {(apparatus for burning A01M15/00)} · CPC title

• A01M21/02 Primary

  Apparatus for mechanical destruction {(hand-tools for uprooting weeds A01B1/16; machines for working soil and for weeding A01B39/18; harvesting machines A01D; cutting implements A01G3/00)} · CPC title

• A01M21/046

  by electricity · CPC title