Unwanted plant removal system having variable optics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017188564-A1
Application number	US-201715468855-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 24, 2017
Priority date	Sep 13, 2013
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Embodiments of an apparatus and methods can removing unwanted plants or weeds from an area such as an agricultural plot or lawn. The apparatus includes a three-dimensional imager configured to capture plant images and locate plants; an image processor configured to distinguish between wanted and unwanted plants based upon the captured plant images; at least one laser device configured to emit a laser beam having power sufficient to damage the unwanted plants; a guidance system configured to direct at least one laser beam toward the unwanted plant; and a chassis configured to support the three-dimensional imager, the laser device, and the guidance system. The chassis is configured to be moved across the area.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus comprising:
an imager configured to capture plant images; an image processor configured to distinguish between a wanted plant and an unwanted plant based on the captured plant images; at least one laser device configured to emit a laser beam having power sufficient to damage a target on the unwanted plant, the at least one laser device having at least one of a variable depth of field, a variable width of field, a variable focal length, or a combination thereof; a guidance system configured to direct the laser beam towards the target on the unwanted plant, the guidance system comprising a non-mechanical phased array beam steering module coupled to a cylindrical-shaped MEMS mirror adaptive optical element; a phase modulator configured to modulate the phase of the at least one laser beam; a phase grating configured to redirect the phase modulated at least one laser beam to the unwanted plant; and a chassis configured to support at least the imager and the at least one laser device, wherein the chassis is configured to be moved across an area.

2 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the imager comprises a light source with one or more scanning beams, collection optics, and one or more detectors.

3 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the laser device comprises an array of semiconductor lasers.

4 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the laser device comprises at least one semiconductor laser configured to emit a laser beam having a wavelength of from about 430 nm to about 475 nm or from about 650 nm to about 675 nm.

5 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the laser device can emit a laser beam having an adjustable wavelength based upon information from the image processor.

6 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the laser device comprises at least one of a MEMS scanner, a MEMS adaptive optical, or a phased array modulator.

7 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the laser device is configured to change at least one of the depth of field, the width of field, or the focal length based upon information from the image processor.

8 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the guidance system can sense and adjust the direction of the laser beam in three-dimensions.

9 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the chassis is further configured to support the guidance system.

10 . An apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the chassis comprises a three-dimensional gyro accelerometer sensor.

11 . An apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the chassis adjusts all three-dimensions electro-optically.

12 . A lawn weeding system comprising:
a lawn mower comprising cutting means; and an apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the chassis is mechanically coupled to the lawn mower.

13 . A lawn weeding system according to claim 12 , wherein the cutting means are mechanical or electro-optical.

14 . A lawn weeding system according to claim 12 , wherein the lawn mower generates power to energize at least one of the three-dimensional imager, the image processor, the at least one laser device, and the guidance system.

15 . A lawn weeding system according to claim 12 , wherein the electro-optical cutting means and the laser beam having power sufficient to damage an unwanted plant can be provided by the same at least one laser diode.

16 . An apparatus comprising:
an imager configured to capture plant images; an image processor configured to distinguish between a wanted plant and an unwanted plant based on the captured plant images; at least one laser device configured to emit a laser beam having power sufficient to damage a target on the unwanted plant; a guidance system configured to direct the laser beam towards the target on the unwanted plant, the guidance system comprising a non-mechanical phased array beam steering module coupled to a cylindrical-shaped MEMS mirror adaptive optical element; a chassis configured to support at least the imager and the at least one laser device, wherein the chassis is configured to be moved across an area.

17 . The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the laser device has at least one of a variable depth of field, a variable width of field, a variable focal length, or a combination thereof.

18 . The apparatus according to claim 16 further comprising a phase modulator configured to modulate the phase of the at least one laser beam; and

19 . The apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising a phase grating configured to redirect the phase modulated at least one laser beam to the unwanted plant.

20 . The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the phase modulator is configured to dynamically adjust a focus of the at least one laser beam by creating phase curvature.

Assignees

• Palo Alto Res Ct Inc

Inventors

• Stowe Timothy David
• Maeda Patrick Yasuo
• Curley Tim

Classifications

• G06F18/24

  Classification techniques · CPC title

• A01D34/835

  specially adapted for particular purposes · CPC title

• A01D2101/00

  Lawn-mowers · CPC title

• A01M21/046 Primary

  by electricity · CPC title

• G06K9/6267

  Physics · mapped topic