Autonomous laser treatment system for agricultural objects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11623305-B2
Application number	US-202117503221-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 15, 2021
Priority date	Oct 16, 2020
Publication date	Apr 11, 2023
Grant date	Apr 11, 2023

Abstract

Various embodiments of an apparatus, methods, systems and computer program products described herein are directed to an agricultural observation and treatment system and method of operation. The agricultural treatment system uses a treatment unit for emitting a laser at agricultural objects. The treatment unit is configured with a treatment head assembly that includes a moveable treatment head with one or more laser emitting tips. A first and second motor assembly are operated by the treatment unit to control the movement of the treatment head. The first motor assembly includes a first motor rotatable in a first rotational axis. A first linkage assembly is connected to the first motor and the treatment head assembly. The first linkage assembly is rotatable by the first motor. The second linkage assembly is rotatable by the second motor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A treatment apparatus comprising:
at least a portion of a laser treatment head assembly comprising a moveable treatment head;
a first motor assembly comprising a first motor, the first motor assembly rotatable in a first rotational axis;
a first linkage assembly connected to the first motor and the treatment head assembly, wherein the treatment head is moveable by rotation of the first motor, the first linkage assembly comprising a surface portion, wherein the surface portion limits a degree of rotation of the first motor, the first linkage assembly comprising a first leg having an inner side and a second leg having an inner side, wherein the inner sides limit a degree of rotation of the first motor by connecting with a post, wherein the surface portion is the inner side;
a second motor assembly comprising a second motor, the second motor rotatable in a second rotational axis, the first rotational axis being different than second rotational axis; and
a second linkage assembly connected to the second motor and the treatment head assembly, wherein the treatment head is moveable by rotation of the second motor.

2. The treatment apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a laser light source; and
a fiber optic cable configured for receiving generated laser light from the laser light source, wherein the fiber optic cable is coupled to a laser emitting tip.

3. The treatment apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising:
a controller configured to control the first and second motors thereby adjusting a position of the moveable treatment head.

4. The treatment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein rotation of the first motor causes the treatment head assembly to pivot along a first axis, and rotation of the second motor causes the treatment head assembly to pivot along a second axis.

5. The treatment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first linkage assembly comprises a first set of two linkage arms, and the second linkage assembly comprises a second set of two linkage arms.

6. The treatment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first linkage assembly comprises a frame having a first opening and a second opening for attachment to the treatment head assembly, and the second linkage assembly comprises a first arm and a second arm, wherein the first arm is rotatably attached to the second arm and the first arm has an opening for attachment to the treatment head assembly.

7. The treatment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first motor and second motor are operable such that the first motor rotates in a first plane and the second motor rotates in a second plane, the first plane being perpendicular to the second plane.

8. The treatment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first motor and second motor are operable that while the treatment head assembly is in a neutral position a line extending from the center of the first motor would intersect the rotational axis of the treatment head assembly along one axis, and a line extending from the center of the second motor would intersect the rotational axis of the treatment head assembly along another axis.

9. The treatment apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising:
a first encoder coupled to the first motor;
a second encoder coupled to the second motor; and
the microcontroller operably coupled to the first and second motors, and operably coupled to the first and second encoders.

10. A treatment apparatus comprising:
at least a portion of a laser treatment head assembly comprising a moveable treatment head;
a first motor assembly comprising a first motor, the first motor assembly rotatable in a first rotational axis;
a first linkage assembly connected to the first motor and the treatment head assembly, wherein the treatment head is moveable by rotation of the first motor;
a second motor assembly comprising a second motor, the second motor rotatable in a second rotational axis, the first rotational axis being different than second rotational axis;
a second linkage assembly connected to the second motor and the treatment head assembly, wherein the treatment head is moveable by rotation of the second motor; and
wherein the first linkage assembly comprises a frame having a first opening and a second opening for attachment to the treatment head assembly, and the second linkage assembly comprises a first arm and a second arm, wherein the first arm is rotatably attached to the second arm and the first arm has an opening for attachment to the treatment head assembly.

11. The treatment apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising:
a laser light source; and
a fiber optic cable configured for receiving generated laser light from the laser light source, wherein the fiber optic cable is coupled to a laser emitting tip.

12. The treatment apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising:
a controller configured to control the first and second motors thereby adjusting a position of the moveable treatment head.

13. The treatment apparatus of claim 10 , wherein rotation of the first motor causes the treatment head assembly to pivot along a first axis, and rotation of the second motor causes the treatment head assembly to pivot along a second axis.

14. The treatment apparatus of claim 10 , the first linkage assembly comprising a first leg having an inner side and a second leg having an inner side, wherein the inner sides limit a degree of rotation of the first motor by connecting with a post.

15. The treatment apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first linkage assembly comprises a first set of two linkage arms, and the second linkage assembly comprises a second set of two linkage arms.

16. The treatment apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first motor and second motor are operable such that the first motor rotates in a first plane and the second motor rotates in a second plane, the first plane being perpendicular to the second plane.

17. The treatment apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first motor and second motor are operable that while the treatment head assembly is in a neutral position a line extending from the center of the first motor would intersect the rotational axis of the treatment head assembly along one axis, and a line extending from the center of the second motor would intersect the rotational axis of the treatment head assembly along another axis.

18. The treatment apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:
a first encoder coupled to the first motor;
a second encoder coupled to the second motor; and
the microcontroller operably coupled to the first and second motors, and operably coupled to the first and second encoders.

19. A treatment apparatus comprising:
at least a portion of a laser treatment head assembly comprising a moveable treatment head;
a first motor assembly comprising a first motor, the first motor assembly rotatable in a first rotational axis;
a first linkage assembly connected to the first motor and the treatment head assembly, wherein the treatment head is moveable by rotation of the first motor, the first linkage assembly comprising a surface portion, wherein the surface portion limits a degree of rotation of the first motor;
a second motor assembly comprising a second motor, the second motor rotatable in a second rotational axis, the first rotational axis being different than second rotational axis; and
a second linkage assembly connected to the second motor and the treatment head assembly, wherein the treatment head is moveable by rotation of the second motor,
wherein the first linkage assembly comprises a frame having a first opening and a second opening for

Assignees

• Verdant Robotics Inc

Inventors

• Sibley Gabriel Thurston
• Leger Patrick Christopher
• Jirattigalochote Wisit
• Garner Curtis Dale
• Chen Liang-Shian
• Stelzriede Jacob R

Classifications

• B05B1/20

  Perforated pipes or troughs, e.g. spray booms; Outlet elements therefor · CPC title

• A01M21/046 Primary

  by electricity · CPC title

• B23K26/0608

  in the same heat affected zone [HAZ] (B23K26/0613, B23K26/0619 take precedence) · CPC title

• B05B12/122

  responsive to presence or shape of target (B05B12/124 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B23K26/032

  using optical means · CPC title