Laser Treatment Head Positioning for Precision Crop Targeting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current agricultural technologies face challenges in efficiently and sustainably increasing food production to meet the demands of a growing global population, with existing methods being incremental and not fully addressing land, chemical, time, and labor costs.
Innovation Solution
An agricultural treatment system utilizing a moveable treatment head with motor assemblies and linkage systems to precisely control the movement and fluid/laser emission for targeted application of treatments to crops, integrating computer vision and automation for object detection, classification, and treatment based on growth stage and history.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional agricultural techniques are used, then food production can be maintained at current levels, but land use, chemical application, time, and labor costs continue to increase without significant improvement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical spraying systems with a laser-based treatment system. The laser head assembly uses optical fields instead of mechanical fluid delivery mechanisms to apply treatments to crops, eliminating the need for chemical substances while maintaining treatment effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the fundamental parameter of treatment application from chemical composition to laser energy parameters (wavelength, power, duration). This allows precise control of treatment effects without introducing external substances, thereby reducing chemical loss while improving productivity.
2Manufacturing precision
If traditional spraying systems are used, then treatments can be applied to crops, but precision and targeting accuracy are insufficient leading to waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces imprecise mechanical spraying with a laser-based system guided by computer vision and control algorithms. The laser can be precisely directed at target areas through electronic control, achieving high spatial precision without the inherent diffusion and waste associated with mechanical spray systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates real-time detection and adjustment capabilities where the laser treatment system monitors its own performance and automatically adjusts parameters to maintain optimal precision, ensuring minimal resource waste through self-optimization.
3Productivity
If manual or traditional automated systems are used for crop treatment, then coverage can be achieved, but labor requirements and operational complexity remain high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into a single laser treatment platform that can perform detection, positioning, and various types of crop treatments (spraying, heating, sterilization) using the same basic system architecture. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate systems for each function while maintaining high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs autonomous operation with self-navigation and self-adjustment capabilities, eliminating the need for manual intervention and reducing operational complexity. The automated control system manages all aspects of treatment delivery without requiring complex human coordination or multiple specialized operators.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables precise and efficient application of treatments, optimizing resource use and improving crop management by accurately targeting specific areas and objects, enhancing yield and reducing waste.
Implementation Method 1
a laser light source operably connected to a fiber optic cable, which in turn is couple to a treatment head
Implementation Method 2
The agricultural treatment system may determine a first target object to be photoablated with a laser light emitted from the laser emitting tip
Implementation Method 3
A flexible tube may fluidly be coupled from the fluid regulator to the treatment head assembly. The treatment unit may spray a fluid controlled by a fluid regulator with an operable solenoid to control the release of pressurized fluid
Data Source
AI summary
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.