Sensor-Guided Weed Electrode Control Using Conductive Air Paths
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrical methods for controlling unwanted plants and organisms are inefficient due to unpredictable spark gap formation, limited precision, and high energy consumption, often affecting nearby crops and the environment.
Innovation Solution
A device using a sensor system to detect unwanted organisms and a high-voltage source with a first electrode positioned adjacent but at a distance, increasing air conductivity between the electrode and the target using a water jet or ultra-short laser pulse to create a conductive path for targeted current flow, allowing for precise control without direct contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If direct contact or very small distance between electrode and plant is used for electrical current control, then the effectiveness of plant control is improved, but the precision of targeting specific plants is worsened and the risk of affecting nearby crops increases
Solution Approach 1:
A water jet is introduced as an intermediary medium between the electrode and the target plant. The water jet creates a conductive path that allows electrical current to flow through the plant without requiring direct contact between the electrode and the plant, thereby maintaining effectiveness while improving precision and reducing collateral damage to nearby crops.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical/electrical direct contact system with a fluid-dynamic system using a high-velocity water jet. This substitution allows the electrical current to be delivered through the water medium rather than through direct electrode-plant contact, enabling better control and precision in targeting specific plants.
2Reliability
If high voltage is applied to create spark gaps for plant control, then the effectiveness against unwanted plants is improved, but the energy consumption increases and the unpredictability of spark gap formation worsens the precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the electrical discharge process by using a water jet to create a pre-formed conductive path. This eliminates the need for high-voltage spark gaps and allows the use of lower voltages (e.g., 100-1000 V) while maintaining effectiveness, thereby significantly reducing energy consumption and improving precision.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If electrical current is used to control plants, then chemical herbicide contamination is avoided, but the mechanical complexity of the electrical control system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The water jet serves as a simple intermediary that bridges the electrical system and the target plant. This approach maintains the benefits of electrical control (no chemical contamination) while using a relatively simple water delivery system rather than complex mechanical contact systems, thereby managing device complexity effectively.
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
Enables targeted and efficient control of unwanted plants and organisms while minimizing damage to nearby crops and the environment, maintaining high productivity similar to chemical sprayers.
Implementation Method 1
specifically increasing the conductivity of the air between the first electrode and the living being
Implementation Method 2
the resulting electric field leads to ionization of the gas in the discharge space. This becomes conductive and the path is (shortly) closed by a spark
Implementation Method 3
A spark gap is the discharge space between two conductors (here: first electrode and plant) in which a gas (here: air) is located
Implementation Method 4
the current flows from a generator via a first electrode, through the plant, through the soil and back to the generator via another electrode. Closing the circuit heats the parts of the plant through which the current flows
Implementation Method 5
using a water jet or ultra-short laser pulse to create a conductive path
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A device for combating unwanted organisms (56) by means of electric current is equipped with a sensor (36) for the automatic detection of an unwanted organism (56) and a high-voltage source (68). The source is connected to a first electrode (74), which can be positioned adjacent to, but at a distance from, the unwanted organism (56), and to a second, grounded electrode (70). The device is designed to induce a current flow through the unwanted organism (56) by means of charge transfer across the distance between the first electrode (74) and the organism (56). The device includes means for selectively increasing the conductivity of the air between the first electrode (74) and the organism (56), and a control unit (36) configured to control these means based on the sensor signals.