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WO2018195080A1 - Système de lutte thermique contre les mauvaises herbes à base d'infrarouge alimenté électriquement - Google Patents

Système de lutte thermique contre les mauvaises herbes à base d'infrarouge alimenté électriquement Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2018195080A1
WO2018195080A1 PCT/US2018/027975 US2018027975W WO2018195080A1 WO 2018195080 A1 WO2018195080 A1 WO 2018195080A1 US 2018027975 W US2018027975 W US 2018027975W WO 2018195080 A1 WO2018195080 A1 WO 2018195080A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
electrically powered
infrared heating
powered infrared
sensor
vehicle
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2018/027975
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Hugh C. Kent
Michael Reischmann
Original Assignee
Stw, Llc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US15/490,360 external-priority patent/US10010067B2/en
Application filed by Stw, Llc filed Critical Stw, Llc
Publication of WO2018195080A1 publication Critical patent/WO2018195080A1/fr

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01M—CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS; APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS
    • A01M21/00—Apparatus for the destruction of unwanted vegetation, e.g. weeds
    • A01M21/04—Apparatus for destruction by steam, chemicals, burning, or electricity

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an electrically powered infrared based thermal weed control system and more particularly pertains to heating weeds to an appropriate temperature and for an appropriate time sufficient to control weeds in a safe, ecological, convenient, and economical manner.
  • weed control systems of known designs and configurations are known in the prior art. More specifically, weed control systems of known designs and configurations previously devised and utilized for the purpose of controlling weeds are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
  • the electrically powered infrared based thermal weed control system substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of heating weeds to an appropriate temperature and for an appropriate time sufficient to control weeds in a safe, ecological, convenient, and economical manner.
  • the present invention provides an improved electrically powered infrared based thermal weed control system.
  • the general purpose of the present invention which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved, electrically powered, infrared based thermal weed control system and method which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
  • the present invention is an electrically powered infrared based thermal weed control system having a housing with a downwardly facing chamber, at least one electrically powered infrared heating element mounted within the chamber, a source of electrical potential electrically coupled to the electrically powered infrared heating element, and a control assembly for varying the electrical potential to the electrically powered infrared heating elements and the heat generated for controlling undesired weeds there adjacent.
  • An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved electrically powered infrared based thermal weed control system which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such electrically powered infrared based thermal weed control system economically available to the buying public.
  • Prior art combustion generated infrared is intense, but extremely difficult to focus and control.
  • electrically generated infrared is extremely precise, focused and controllable when used in treating weeds and undesirable vegetation. In many applications, it does not need to rely on shields or barriers in an attempt to isolate the desirable plants (crops) from the undesirable plants (weeds).
  • Electrically generated infrared allows for effective thermal weed control in applications where the crops are smaller, more delicate and heat sensitive, and where the weeds are in close proximity to the crops. As described in the experimental results herein, this makes electrically generated infrared far superior to combustion generated infrared for virtually all specialty and row crops (such as fruits, vegetables and horticultural/nursery crops).
  • FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an electrically powered infrared based thermal weed control system constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the electrically powered infrared based thermal weed control system taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1.
  • FIG. 3 is side elevational view of an electrically powered infrared based thermal weed control system constructed in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective illustration of another alternate embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the alternate embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 4.
  • FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a weed control system of FIG. 1 implemented with a robot.
  • FIG. 7 is a plan view along line 7-7 of FIG. 6
  • FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view along line 8-8 of FIG. 6
  • FIG. 9 is a bottom view taken along line 9 of FIG. 6
  • FIG. 10 is a front elevational view along line 10-10 of FIG. 6
  • FIG. 11 is a bottom view of another alternate embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of another alternate embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 13 is a front elevational view along line 13-13 of FIG. 12.
  • FIG. 14 is a side view of an electrically powered weed control system of Fig. 5.
  • FIG. 15 is a rear view of FIG. 14.
  • FIG. 16 is a top perspective view of FIG. 14
  • FIG. 17 is a bottom perspective view of FIG. 14
  • FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a robotic implementation of the present invention.
  • Combustion based weed control devices have an inherent disadvantage in that they are unable to be controlled precisely in terms of the crop areas that are targeted. In all known propane based systems, there is a considerable risk of drift either due to convection or winds or combinations thereof. For this reason, most existing combustion based weed control devices are limited in terms of viable times of day to operate. Typically, many are operated at night when winds are lowest. Furthermore, many of these combustion based devices necessarily need high temperature heat shields to even attempt to contain the heat generated by the combustion. In many cases, the heat shields will actually act as emitters themselves; radiating heat outwardly towards the desirable crop plants, causing un-intended damage.
  • electrically powered infrared represents a drastic departure from these devices in that there is considerable precision in targeting provided by the electric infrared elements.
  • the electric (as opposed to combustion based) infrared elements operate much like a flashlight in the sense that the path of area affected is reliably precise.
  • Experiment 2 Electrical Infrared test.
  • the electrical infrared emitter performed much like a flashlight in terms of targeting, with the emitter producing invisible infrared radiation, much in the way that a flashlight provides visible light.
  • the infrared emitter was located in a downward facing chamber and connected to an electrical power source via electrical switches and controls. In this
  • the power source was a conventional generator that can be found in most home improvement stores.
  • the generator was pulled behind a tractor and the housing was mounted on a movable arm off of the tractor, which allowed for adjustment of vertical position.
  • An electrical controller allowed for electric power to the emitter to be adjusted. There was no flame or combustion or fuel whatsoever (other than the gasoline in the generator).
  • the tractor was driven along a straight path and a hand held laser temperature sensor was used to determine where the infrared radiation was generating heat.
  • the temperature readings immediately under the emitter showed that the ground and weeds were being heated whereas the heat outside the footprint of the emitter was found to be virtually unchanged from ambient ground temperature.
  • the damage to the weeds created by this prototype was not immediately apparent to the eye. However, a day or two later, the path of the prototype s emitter (and its efficacy) was observable and dramatic. It had created a distinct path of dead weeds corresponding to the path of travel, with virtually no effect on plants outside that path.
  • test beds created for these trials were planted with delicate wildflowers (cosmos bipinnatus) as a test "crop" to represent desirable agricultural plants.
  • delicate wildflowers cosmos bipinnatus
  • these delicate wildflowers were completely un-harmed.
  • the path of travel that had been treated with infrared was still almost entirely devoid of live vegetation, whereas the un-treated plants had grown an inch or two at the normal pace of expected growth.
  • the area in the field a few feet away from the test beds had grown about the same amount as the "control" strips of un-treated plants; proving that the electrical powered infrared emitters provjded precise weed control in the intended areas, while having no impact on the un-treated areas.
  • the electrically powered infrared based thermal weed control system 10 is comprised of a plurality of components.
  • Such components in their broadest context include a housing, at least one electrically powered infrared heating element, and a source of electrical potential.
  • Such components are individually configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective.
  • a housing having a downwardly facing chamber.
  • a plurality of spaced electrically powered infrared heating elements mounted within the chamber.
  • a single element such as a quartz infrared tube may be used.
  • the primary embodiment further includes a vehicle for moving the housing, electrically powered infrared heating elements, and source of electrical potential across desired crops and undesired weeds for controlling the undesired weeds but not the desired crops.
  • a vehicle for moving the housing, electrically powered infrared heating elements, and source of electrical potential across desired crops and undesired weeds for controlling the undesired weeds but not the desired crops.
  • Figures 1 and 2 illustrates a single towing vehicle with a single towed housing for the electrically powered infrared heating elements
  • the invention may include a single towing vehicle with multiple laterally spaced wings, or other configuration suitable for different crops, crop row spacing, and their horticultural variations. In the case of laterally offset wings, each wing would include one or more electrically powered infrared heating elements whereby driving between parallel rows of crops would
  • FIG. 3 An alternate embodiment of the system 100 is illustrated in Figure 3.
  • a single electrically powered infrared heating element 104 is utilized and handles 108 are provided.
  • the handles are adapted to be gripped by a user to push the electrically powered infrared heating element above undesired weeds for controlling the weeds.
  • This embodiment is best suited for use as a weed control device in areas where there are no crops, i.e., a homeowner's driveway or yard. Electrical power in this embodiment is supplied to the system by any of a plurality of means including an extension cord, a battery, a generator, or the like.
  • the system 200 includes a tractor 204 and two laterally spaced wings 206. The wings are similarly configured. Each wing includes a downwardly facing infrared heating element 208 and a source of potential 210 to power the infrared heating elements. Note Figures 4 and 5.
  • the present invention is an electrically powered infrared based thermal weed control system 10 for heating weeds to an appropriate temperature and for an appropriate time sufficient to control weeds.
  • the heating and the controlling are done in a safe, ecological, convenient, and economical manner.
  • a housing 1 In this preferred embodiment, illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, first provided is a housing 1 .
  • the housing is in a rectilinear configuration with a closed top face 16 and an open bottom 18.
  • the housing has a front face 20 and a parallel rear face 22.
  • the housing has a first side face 24 and a parallel second side face 26.
  • a chamber is formed between the closed top face and the open bottom, between the front face and the rear face, and between the first side face and second side face.
  • a plurality of electrically powered infrared heating elements 32 are provided. The electrically powered infrared heating elements are located within the chamber.
  • the electrically powered infrared heating elements have opposed ends 34 coupled to the first side face and the second side face whereby the electrically powered infrared heating elements extend parallel with the front face and the rear face.
  • quartz infrared tube(s) may be used in the place of infrared heating elements.
  • An electrical power source 38 is next provided.
  • the electric power source is attached to the housing.
  • the electrical power source is operatively coupled to the electrically powered infrared heating elements for providing electrical potential to the electrically powered infrared heating elements for generating heat there adjacent.
  • the heat absorbed by the target object. weed tissue is sufficient to raise its temperature to at least 100 degrees centigrade.
  • control assembly 42 is under the control of an operator for varying the electrical potential to the electrically powered infrared heating elements so as to vary heat generated for controlling weeds there adjacent.
  • the primary embodiment uses no wheels coupled to the housing, a plurality of wheels 46 may be provided. If provided, the wheels are coupled to and depend downwardly from the housing to facilitate movement of the housing containing the electrically powered infrared heating elements. Wheels may be used in combination with other methods of suspending the housing and enabling its movement, such as a tractor's three- point hitch.
  • height adjustment mechanisms 50 are used to vary the elevation of the electrically powered infrared heating elements with respect to the weeds to be controlled.
  • a vehicle 54 is provided.
  • the vehicle is operatively coupled to the housing to pull the housing and the electrically powered infrared heating elements, and source of electrical potential across a field of desirable crops and undesirable weeds.
  • the pulling is done at a speed sufficient to deliver enough infrared radiation to rupture cell walls and interrupt photosynthesis in the undesired weeds to thereby control the undesired weeds.
  • the speed in one example may be between 1 mile per hour and 10 miles per hour.
  • the control assembly is adapted to be modified so as to automatically adjust the electrically powered infrared heating elements to the angle and height as a function of the crop base for the particular application.
  • organic agriculture is a $35 billion retail market in the United States alone, and it has grown at a double digit rate in each year over the last decade. Worldwide, organic agriculture is practiced on approximately 100 million acres.
  • Fuel Inefficiency - Open combustion of Propane is an expensive and inefficient heat source; especially in an outdoor environment. In addition it creates a significant environmental burden in the form of a high carbon load.
  • the first viable thermal weeding technology will capitalize on worldwide demand for a safe, sustainable method of weed control that (unlike conventional herbicides) is non-toxic, will never lose effectiveness due to weed resistance, and will be acceptable under organic production standards.
  • the primary and preferred embodiment of Figures 6-10 is a robot mounted electrically powered infrared based thermal weed control system 310 for heating weeds to an appropriate temperature and for an appropriate time sufficient to control weeds.
  • the heating and the controlling are done in a safe, ecological, convenient, and economical manner.
  • the system includes a robot 314 having a forward end 316 and a rearward end 318.
  • One forward wheel 320 is adjacent to the forward end.
  • Two laterally spaced rearward wheels 322 are adjacent to the rearward end.
  • Two drive motors 324 are provided.
  • One of the two drive motors is operatively coupled to each rearward wheel to propel the robot.
  • a steering driver 326 operatively coupled to the front wheel.
  • An infrared emitter 330 is secured to the robot rearwardly of the forward wheel and forward ly of the rearward wheels.
  • a silicone skirt 332 peripherally encompasses the infrared emitter, in other embodiments, the silicone skirt extends farther than shown, particularly such that the bottom edge thereof contacts the ground.
  • the infrared emitter faces downwardly to irradiate ground and undesirable vegetation there below. In some embodiments, the undesired vegetation is heated to a temperature in excess of 100 degrees C and for a duration of 10 seconds.
  • a directional assembly 336 includes an electrical wire 338 buried beneath the ground to a readable depth defining a path of travel over which the robot is to travel to pass over and irradiate and kill undesirable vegetation while abating future growth.
  • the directional assembly includes a sensor 340 in the robot forwardly of the forward wheel. The sensor faces downwardly and follows the electrical wire and redirects the steering driver whereby the robot will move in a direction following the electrical wire.
  • the directional assembly 336 is shown in combination with wire 338, but it is understood that GPS sensors and/or other visual sensors can be used to determine where the vehicle should travel, and where the infrared should be used, to treat the undesirable vegetation.
  • a computer package 344 is in the robot.
  • the computer package is operatively coupled to the drive motors and the steering driver and the infrared emitter to vary the speed of movement and the direction of movement and temperature of the infrared light emitter target plant tissue.
  • a power assembly is within the robot.
  • the power assembly includes a rechargeable battery 348.
  • the rechargeable battery powers the drive motors and the directional driver and the infrared emitter and the computer package.
  • the power assembly includes recharging nodes on the robot facing forwardly from the forward end. The recharging nodes are operatively coupled to the rechargeable battery.
  • a source of electrical potential 352 remote from the robot is adapted to receive the nodes of the robot to recharge the rechargeable battery as needed to insure powering of the system.
  • a generator is provided on the robot to drive the motors and provide electrical power to the robot.
  • Figure 11 illustrates an embodiment 400 wherein the infrared emitter 404 is in a U-shaped configuration located forwardly of the forward wheel and on opposite sides of the forward wheel.
  • Figures 12 and 13 illustrate an embodiment 500 wherein the directional assembly includes a camera 504 and other sensors mounted upon the robot with a viewing station under the control of an operator to steer the robot appropriately. Additional sensors may include those such as radar. GPS. Sonar and the like. The robot may be autonomously piloted via GPS sensors and camera/radar. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 an underground wire is provided, however instead of a wire, the field may be provided with multiple reference points which can be located by the camera, radar or other sensors.
  • the sensors are able to determine the position of the robot at any given time by determining the location of the relevant reference points.
  • the robot and computer package are programmed with the row layout based on these reference points.
  • the robot will know where each row lies so that it can be navigated to control weeds in the appropriate manner.
  • the seeding device may track where each seed or line of seeds are planted in reference to the three reference points, which would enable the robotic weed controller to know where it is relative to those rows.
  • Example reference points 2000, 2002, 2004 are shown in in FIG. 18. Alternately or in addition to the reference points, GPS tracking and navigation based systems can be used in conjunction with the computer package and steering assembly to steer and drive the robot along the appropriate path.
  • the infrared emitter includes a plurality of laterally spaced panels 508, 510, 512. As can be seen, the robot
  • FIG. 13 is provided with high ground clearance that allows the robot to drive over multiple rows of crops without damaging the desirable crops.
  • a robot mounted electrically powered infrared based thermal weed control system has a forward end and a rearward end, at least one forward wheel is adjacent to the forward end. At least one rearward wheel is adjacent to the rearward end.
  • a drive motor propels the robot and a steering driver is operatively coupled to at least one of the wheels.
  • An infrared emitter is secured to the robot facing downwardly to irradiate ground and undesirable vegetation there below.
  • a directional assembly determines a path of travel over which the robot is to travel to pass over and irradiate and treat undesirable vegetation for the purpose of killing and controlling such vegetation and suppressing future weed growth.
  • a directional assembly including an electrical wire buried beneath the ground to a readable depth defining a path of travel over which the robot is to travel to pass over and irradiate and treat undesirable vegetation for the purpose of killing and controlling such vegetation and suppressing future growth.
  • the directional assembly including a sensor in the robot forwardly of the forward wheel, the sensor facing downwardly and following the electrical wire and redirecting the steering driver whereby the robot will move in a direction following the electrical wire.
  • the directional assembly includes a sensor in the robot and a plurality of reference points located within the field, the reference points being tracked by the sensor to determine the relative position of the robot thereto.
  • the computer package includes data indicative of a layout of desirable crops such that the computer package directs the robot between the desirable crops to control undesirable vegetation along such path.
  • the robot includes two rearward wheels and one forward wheel.
  • the infrared emitter is located forwardly of the rearward wheels and rearwardly of the forward wheels.
  • the infrared emitter is in a U-shaped configuration located forwardly of the forward wheel and on opposite sides of the forward wheel.
  • the directional assembly includes a camera mounted upon the robot with a viewing station under the control of an operator to steer the robot appropriately.
  • the infrared emitter includes a plurality of laterally spaced panels which may be spaced to allow for treatment of multiple rows in one pass.
  • robot mounted electrically powered infrared based thermal weed control system for heating weeds to an appropriate temperature and for an appropriate time sufficient to control weeds, the heating and the controlling being done in a safe, ecological, convenient, and economical manner.
  • the system includes a robot having a forward end and a rearward end, one forward wheel adjacent to the forward end. Two laterally spaced rearward wheels are adjacent to the rearward end. Two drive motors are provided with one of the two drive motors operatively coupled to each rearward wheel to propel the robot.
  • a steering drive is provided and operatively coupled to the front wheel.
  • NA an infrared emitter is secured to the robot rearwardly of the forward wheel and forwardly of the rearward wheels.
  • a silicone skirt peripherally encompasses the infrared emitter and the emitter is spaced from the ground and facing downwardly.
  • the emitter irradiates the ground and undesirable vegetation there below to a temperature in excess of 100 degrees C for a duration of approximately .10 seconds.
  • a directional assembly is provided including an electrical wire buried beneath the ground to a readable depth defining a path of travel over which the robot is to travel to pass over and irradiate and kill undesirable vegetation while abating future growth.
  • the directional assembly includes a sensor in the robot forwardly of the forward wheel, the sensor facing downwardly and following the electrical wire and redirecting the steering driver whereby the robot will move in a direction following the electrical wire.
  • a computer package is operatively coupled to the drive motors and the steering driver and the infrared emitter to vary the speed of movement and the direction of movement and degree of the infrared radiation emitted.
  • a power assembly within the robot includes a rechargeable battery powering the drive motors, the directional driver and the infrared emitter, and the computer package.
  • the robot further includes recharging nodes operatively coupled to the battery and a source of potential remote from the robot is adapted to receive the nodes of the robot to recharge the rechargeable battery as needed to insure powering of the system.
  • the emitter a width B' which results in an impact area B which is approximately the same width as B' Areas A and C represent the unaffected crops that are not directly under the emitter 1416.
  • the emitter 1416 provides infrared radiation directly downwards at the undesirable crops found in the impact area B.
  • the emitter width B' is approximately the same as the impact area width B. It is understood that the impact area can be slightly larger depending on the configuration and height of the emitter, but in the preferred implementation, the emitter generally creates a straight beam directed downwards at the crops.
  • FIG. 2 One example of such a beam is represented in FIG. 2.
  • Flexible skirt 1400 is attached around the outside of the housing 1500.
  • the skirt 1400 is in four generally straight pieces.
  • the skirt is designed to touch or be close to the ground and to flex to accommodate the variances in the ground.
  • the emitter 1416 provides a generally straight beam of infrared radiation directly at the impact area B.
  • the beam is generally of the same shape as housing 1500. Adjusting the height of the emitter 1416 over the ground can slightly change the width B of the impact area much in the way that a flashlight shines on a larger area when farther away, but a smaller area when closer.
  • the housing 1500 and the configuration of the emitter 1416 provides a focused beam that is generally straight along its sides without significantly flaring out.
  • the treatment area provides a focused area of treatment with infrared while not being significantly impacted by wind or drift that is unavoidable in combustion based systems.
  • the front of the housing 1500 includes a spray nozzle 1404 fed by a tube 1406 connected to a fluid reservoir.
  • This nozzle 1404 delivers a spray of fluid ahead of the emitter.
  • the fluid may simply be water or may include agricultural adjuvants or other materials that break the surface tension of the water to provide more even sheet coating of the water. In any event, the adjuvant fluid can increase the effectiveness of the infrared radiation on the undesired weeds.
  • a temperature sensor 1 08 measures the temperature of the treated area following treatment. Sensor 1415 monitors the
  • the emitter is powered via wires 1414 connected to the source of electrical potential.
  • the source of electrical potential is a diesel or gas powered generator.
  • an alternator coupled to the vehicle provides the electrical potential.
  • renewables such as wind or solar are used to provide electrical power, the wind and/or solar power may be coupled to a battery either within the vehicle or the vehicle may include a battery that is charged by wind/solar while the vehicle is not in use.
  • the housing 1500 is mounted on arm 1412 which can be raised lowered to allow for the height of the housing 1500 over the ground to be adjusted.
  • the controller may use the various sensor readings contemplated herein to adjust the power to the emitter and the speed/direction of the vehicle which carries the emitter.
  • the robot of FIG. 18 includes a directional assembly 1900, 1902 which includes various sensors and computers to gather and process directional data.
  • the sensor 1900 is elevated with respect to the robot such that reference points 2000, 2002 and 2004 can be tracked to determine the positioning of the robot.
  • GPS tracking can be used for the purposes of steering the robot.
  • other sensors such as sonar, radar, camera and radio sensors can be used to determine the position of the robot and the infrared emitters relative to the rows of desirable crops.
  • the field is mapped within the directional program executing on the computer of the robot to determine where treatment should be applied based on where desirable crops are planted.
  • the electrical elements 508, 510, 512 are located on arms to enable multiple rows to be treated.
  • the spaced elements are adjustable in their position both in terms of vertical height over the ground and distance apart and between each other. This enables the vehicle/robot to be configured differently for particular fields. It is further understood that although FIG. 18 shows a robotic embodiment, the vehicle could be human driven and include mapping displays and other data in the cab to enable the driver to treat the appropriate areas.
  • the senor 1900 may include an antenna that enables the robot to receive and broadcast signals to a central or other remote computer that controls one or multiple robots or allows for the upload of the appropriate mapping data to enable to robots to automatically follow the designated paths and provide the weed treatment via infrared as described herein.
  • the computer of the robot is configured to execute a logic program based on various sensor readings to control the robot. It is further understood that the program could provide feedback in cab to a
  • Tg temperature of the treated ground
  • Te temperature of the emitter
  • P Position
  • Further control parameters can be determined based on ambient temperature (Ta) as measured by another sensor or as determined via a remote weather station.
  • Te may be either at an operational max or an optimized max.
  • An operational max may be the maximum
  • the optimized max may be a value determined to optimize weed killing when accounting for costs of running the machine. This optimized max may be compared with the P max or the derivative thereof which would give speed. As it would be expected that an increase in speed would be more expensive in terms of moving the vehicle/robot. Ta may be used either as air temperature or ground
  • Tg the temperature after treatment.
  • the temperature difference required to kill the weeds would be known and the emitter power and speed of the vehicle/robot may be adjusted to enable the appropriate amount of heating. For example, if it is necessary to obtain 100c on the treated weeds and the ambient temperature is 15c a certain
  • the speed increases may be indicated to the driver or a cruise control type of mechanism may be used to obtain optimal speed as the driver pilots the vehicle along the appropriate path through the rows as shown in FIG. 18.
  • a solar powered robotic system with the electrically powered infrared emitter could spend much of the day re-charging internal batteries connected to a solar panel array.
  • the solar panels may be mounted to the robot itself and alternately, the robot may drive itself to a charging port connected to a solar array.
  • the robot When the sun goes down, the robot could be programmed to move through rows of crops to treat undesired weeds with the infrared radiation generated from the electrical infrared system

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Insects & Arthropods (AREA)
  • Pest Control & Pesticides (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Zoology (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Catching Or Destruction (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un système de lutte contre les mauvaises herbes à base d'infrarouge alimenté électriquement. Un boîtier comprend une chambre orientée vers le bas. Au moins un élément de chauffage infrarouge alimenté électriquement est monté à l'intérieur de la chambre. Une source d'énergie électrique est électriquement couplée à l'élément de chauffage infrarouge alimenté électriquement. Un ensemble de commande fait varier la puissance électrique des éléments de chauffage infrarouge alimentés électriquement et la chaleur dégagée pour lutter contre la végétation indésirable adjacente à l'aide d'un rayonnement infrarouge ciblé émis par l'élément de chauffage infrarouge alimenté électriquement.
PCT/US2018/027975 2017-04-18 2018-04-17 Système de lutte thermique contre les mauvaises herbes à base d'infrarouge alimenté électriquement WO2018195080A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US15/490,360 2017-04-18
US15/490,360 US10010067B2 (en) 2014-09-12 2017-04-18 Electrically powered infrared based thermal weed control system

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WO2018195080A1 true WO2018195080A1 (fr) 2018-10-25

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Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20010000554A1 (en) * 1999-02-09 2001-05-03 Prull Gregory G. Method and apparatus for thermally killing weeds
US20100024291A1 (en) * 2007-03-05 2010-02-04 Envo-Dan Aps Thermal weed control
US20130235183A1 (en) * 2012-03-07 2013-09-12 Blue River Technology, Inc. Method and apparatus for automated plant necrosis
US8872136B1 (en) * 2012-07-19 2014-10-28 Global Neighbor, Inc. Plant eradication using non-mutating low energy rapid unnatural dual component illumination protocol (RUDCIP) in four parameters
KR20150113536A (ko) * 2014-03-31 2015-10-08 남경탁 식물 고사장치

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20010000554A1 (en) * 1999-02-09 2001-05-03 Prull Gregory G. Method and apparatus for thermally killing weeds
US20100024291A1 (en) * 2007-03-05 2010-02-04 Envo-Dan Aps Thermal weed control
US20130235183A1 (en) * 2012-03-07 2013-09-12 Blue River Technology, Inc. Method and apparatus for automated plant necrosis
US8872136B1 (en) * 2012-07-19 2014-10-28 Global Neighbor, Inc. Plant eradication using non-mutating low energy rapid unnatural dual component illumination protocol (RUDCIP) in four parameters
KR20150113536A (ko) * 2014-03-31 2015-10-08 남경탁 식물 고사장치

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