Apparatus for weed control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11560680-B2
Application number	US-201816628901-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 2, 2018
Priority date	Jul 6, 2017
Publication date	Jan 24, 2023
Grant date	Jan 24, 2023

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 vegetation control technology from a plurality of vegetation control technologies 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 at least one vegetation control technology.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for weed control, comprising a processor configured to:
receive from an input at least one image of an environment, the at least one image comprising a first part of the environment and a second part of the environment;
analyze the at least one image to determine at least a first vegetation control technology and a second vegetation control technology from a plurality of vegetation control technologies to be used for weed control, wherein determination of the at least first and second vegetation control technologies comprises a determination of a first type of weed in at least the first part of the environment and a determination of a second type of weed in at least the second part of the environment; and
output information for activating the at least first and second vegetation control technologies;
wherein:
the second part of the environment is a subset of the first part of the environment;
the first vegetation control technology is for weed control for the first type of weed in the first part of the environment and is not a chemical spray; and
the second vegetation control technology is for weed control for the second type of weed in the second part of the environment and is a chemical spray.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein analysis of the at least one image to determine the first vegetation control technology comprises a determination of at least one location of vegetation in at least the first part of the environment, and wherein the processor is configured to determine the first vegetation control technology to be used at the at least one location.

3. 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.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine at least one location of the first type of weed.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein analysis of the at least one image comprises utilization of a machine learning algorithm.

6. A system for weed control, comprising:
at least one camera configured to acquire at least one image of an environment;
a plurality of vegetation control technologies mounted on a vehicle; and
an apparatus comprising a processor configured to:
receive from an the at least one camera the at least one image of an environment, the at least one image comprising a first part of the environment and a second part of the environment;
analyze the at least one image to determine at least a first vegetation control technology and a second vegetation control technology from a plurality of vegetation control technologies to be used for weed control, wherein determination of the at least first and second vegetation control technologies comprises a determination of a first type of weed in at least the first part of the environment and a determination of a second type of weed in at least the second part of the environment; and
output information for activating the at least first and second vegetation control technologies;
wherein:
the second part of the environment is a subset of the first part of the environment;
the first vegetation control technology is for weed control for the first type of weed in the first part of the environment and is not a chemical spray; and
the second vegetation control technology is for weed control for the second type of weed in the second part of the environment and is a chemical spray.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the apparatus is mounted on the vehicle; and wherein the at least one camera is mounted on the vehicle.

8. A method for weed control, comprising:
receiving by a processor at least one image of an environment, the at least one image comprising a first part of the environment and a second part of the environment;
analyzing by the processor the at least one image to determine at least a first vegetation control technology and a second vegetation control technology from a plurality of vegetation control technologies to be used for weed control, wherein determination of the at least first and second vegetation control technologies comprises a determination of a first type of weed in at least the first part of the environment and a determination of a second type of weed in at least the second part of the environment; and
outputting information for activating the at least first and second vegetation control technologies;
wherein:
the second part of the environment is a subset of the first part of the environment;
the first vegetation control technology is for weed control for the first type of weed in the first part of the environment and is not a chemical spray; and
the second vegetation control technology is for weed control for the second type of weed in the second part of the environment and is a chemical spray.

9. The method of claim 8 , comprising determining by the processor at least one location of vegetation in at least the first part of the environment and determining the first vegetation control technology to be used at the at least one location.

10. The method of claim 8 , 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.

11. 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, the at least one image comprising a first part of the environment and a second part of the environment;
analyze the at least one image to determine at least a first vegetation control technology and a second vegetation control technology from a plurality of vegetation control technologies to be used for weed control, wherein determination of the at least first and second vegetation control technologies comprises a determination of a first type of weed in at least the first part of the environment and a determination of a second type of weed in at least the second part of the environment; and
output information for activating the at least first and second vegetation control technologies;
wherein:
the second part of the environment is a subset of the first part of the environment;
the first vegetation control technology is for weed control for the first type of weed in the first part of the environment and is not a chemical spray; and
the second vegetation control technology is for weed control for the second type of weed in the second part of the environment and is a chemical spray.

Assignees

• Bayer Ag

Inventors

• Bassfeld Hinnerk
• Arians Thomas
• Day Pascal
• Giraud Virginie
• Hadlow James

Classifications

• G05B15/02

  electric · CPC title

• G06T7/70

  Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras (camera calibration G06T7/80) · CPC title

• A01M7/0089

  Regulating or controlling systems (the delivery being related to the movement of a vehicle B05B9/06) · CPC title

• G06T2207/30188

  Vegetation; Agriculture · CPC title

• A01M9/0092

  Regulating or controlling systems (the delivery being related to the movement of a vehicle B05B9/06) · CPC title