Solar-Powered Tractor High-Intensity Light Weed Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current agronomic weed control methods rely on toxic chemicals and fuel-intensive tillage, which have environmental and economic drawbacks, necessitating a more sustainable and energy-efficient solution.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a solar-powered tractor equipped with a high-intensity light subassembly that uses renewable energy to kill weeds by exposing them to intense light, minimizing fuel use and environmental impact, with integrated control mechanisms for energy management and smart grid integration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If toxic chemicals and genetically modified crops are used for weed control, then weed control effectiveness is improved, but environmental damage and operational costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweed control effectivenessVSAvoidenvironmental damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces chemical and biological weed control methods with a physical/optical system using high-intensity light sources (LEDs or lasers) to kill weeds through photothermal heating and tissue damage, eliminating the need for toxic chemicals and GMOs while maintaining effective weed control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses high-intensity light sources with specific parameters (wavelength, intensity, duration) to deliver sufficient energy dosage to weed tissues to cause lethal heating and tissue damage, with the light source configured to provide an energy dosage sufficient to kill the vegetation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If flame weeders are used to kill weeds, then chemical and tillage negative effects are avoided, but fuel consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechemical and tillage negative effectsVSAvoidfuel consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the combustion-based thermal system (flame weeder) with an electrical/optical system using high-intensity light sources powered by renewable energy, eliminating the need for fossil fuel combustion while maintaining the thermal effect needed to kill weeds through photothermal heating

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the energy source from chemical combustion (fossil fuels) to electrical energy from renewable sources (solar panels, wind turbines), and delivers energy through light rather than flame, achieving the same weed-killing thermal effect without combustion emissions and with reduced overall energy consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If high intensity light sources are used to kill weeds, then environmental impact and fuel use are minimized, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental impactVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses pulsed or intermittent operation of the high-intensity light sources rather than continuous operation, activating the lights only when vegetation is detected by sensors, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining effective weed control coverage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates sensors to detect the presence of vegetation and uses this feedback to control the operation of the high-intensity light sources, activating them only when needed to treat vegetation, which optimizes energy usage and reduces unnecessary energy consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 3:

The system integrates multiple functions including renewable energy generation (solar panels, wind turbines), energy storage (batteries), vegetation detection (sensors), and weed control (light sources) into a single multi-functional platform, allowing the apparatus to be self-powered and reducing the need for external fuel or electricity supplies

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 effectively controls weeds using less total embodied energy than chemical or tillage methods, powered by on-farm renewable energy, and includes smart grid integration for optimized energy use and cost management.

Implementation Method 1

Growth management and weed killing may be accomplished by localized heating and tissue damage of target vegetation or by another mode of action induced by exposing plant tissue to high intensity light source

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotothermal heating: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

The power subassembly comprises a solar panel and a power management module, and is configured to provide renewable energy to other components of the apparatus

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotovoltaic effect: Photovoltaic Effect

Data Source

PatentUS11690369B2Method and apparatus for weed control using a high intensity light source

Publication Date: 2023.07.04 BENJEGERDES TROY

AI summary

An apparatus and method for control of undesired vegetation. A renewable power source, tractor, and high intensity light source are provided and moved over an area of land. Exposure of unwanted vegetation to the high intensity light kills the unwanted vegetation.