An apparatus and methods are provided for 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 removal device configured to damage a target on the unwanted plants; a guidance system configured to direct at least one laser beam toward the unwanted plant; a stabilization system configured to provide feedback compensation to one or both of the three-dimensional imager and the guidance system; and a chassis configured to support the three-dimensional imager, the laser device, the guidance system, and the stabilization system. The chassis is configured to be moved across the area.

The invention relates to an electrical weeding device, comprising at least two electrodes, whereby the at least one electrode is directed to the weed. The weed activation device is used as a physical herbicide apparatus. The invention relates to a weed inactivation device, comprising at least two electrodes, whereby the at least one electrode is directed to the weed.

Object of the current invention is to provide for a use of small, cheap, high-power factor efficient and effective electronic converter to control for constant power output with minimal voltage parasitic fluctuations. In order to achieve this objective, the present invention proposes a weed inactivation device comprising an electrical power source, at least one electronic converter, which comprises a power inverter, a transformer coupled to the inverter and a voltage multiplier coupled to the transformer. The device further comprises a plurality of electrodes coupled to the at least one electronic converter, wherein at least one electrode is pointed at one or more loads (or weed system), and a control unit. The control unit comprising a PWM module and at least one sensor, wherein the PWM module is coupled to the at least one electronic converter and the at least one sensor is coupled to the plurality of electrodes. The control unit controls the power output of the at least one electronic converter to supply, within a determined load range, substantially constant power to the plurality of electrodes by adjusting the duty cycle of the PWM module according to the load and limiting parasitic voltage peaks to 1 kV.

A system for targeting and damaging a growing plant includes an aircraft, a laser, and a controller. The laser and controller are mounted to the aircraft, which can position the laser and controller airborne at least 350 meters away from the growing plant to be damaged. The laser can generate a beam of energy sufficient to critically damage the plant when the plant is exposed to the beam and located at least 350 meters away. The controller can determine whether a target of the laser is a plant to be damaged. In response to this determination, the controller can also: a) prevent the laser's beam of energy from reaching the target, if the target is not a plant to be damaged, and b) cause the laser's beam of energy to reach the target, if the target is a plant to be damaged.

A mobile microwave system and method for controlling the growth of weeds present in soils, such as those of agricultural fields includes a microwave unit having a microwave generator for generating microwaves within a frequency range suitable for controlling weed growth. A phased array antenna system includes a plurality of antenna elements for emitting a focused microwave beam within a target area. At least one controllable phase shifter is coupled between the microwave unit and the plurality of antenna elements. The phase shifter is configured for shifting a microwave phase of a part of the microwaves in order to adjust a direction of the emitted microwave beam. The microwave beam direction is steerable to align the target area with a position of a target weed plant. The system is mountable to a vehicle or includes a drive for moving the system.

An electrical apparatus to kill a plant or at least attenuate plant growth, the apparatus comprising: an electrical energy supply unit; an applicator unit comprising an applicator electrode; a return unit comprising a return electrode; electrical circuitry;
the electrical energy supply unit arranged to apply electrical energy through a transmission circuit comprising the applicator electrode, and the return electrode,
wherein said electrical circuitry implements a plant treatment mode and a detection mode,
wherein the electrical circuitry in the detection mode to determine a plant in operative proximity to the transmission circuit, and based on said determination activate the plant treatment mode in which treatment electrical energy, for killing or at least attenuating plant growth, is applied through the transmission circuit.

A farming machine includes one or more image sensors for capturing an image as the farming machine moves through the field. A control system accesses an image captured by the one or more sensors and identifies a distance value associated with each pixel of the image. The distance value corresponds to a distance between a point and an object that the pixel represents. The control system classifies pixels in the image as crop, plant, ground, etc. based on depth information in in the pixels. The control system generates a labelled point cloud using the labels and depth information, and identifies features about the crops, plants, ground, etc. in the point cloud. The control system generates treatment actions based on any of the depth information, visual information, point cloud, and feature values. The control system actuates a treatment mechanism based on the classified pixels.

The present invention is related to a method for improving plant growth and reduce the effects of diseases, with environmental friendly techniques. This is a method for controlling or ending diseases and also, to perform a non-stop electromagnetic combine with invaded electrons treatment with its effective methods for soil, plants, trees and their roots region. Furthermore, high voltage electricity can control the borer insect/s, nematodes in plant, tree and in the soil under treatment. Some of the pathogens, nematodes and insect/s in the region influenced by the magnetic field, invaded by squall of electrons, can be decontaminated after the treatment. The exited and invasive electrons pass through the magnetic field region via negative terminal and will be discharged at positive discharge points which located on discharge bar. After receiving the high voltage treatment, the infected plant can be stimulated to regenerate and grow new leaves, shoots, and/or flashes that exhibit little to no symptoms of infection, depending on the voltage applied to the infected plant and the condition of the infected plant.

A system for limiting the growth of creeper plants on an upright surface, including a voltage generator comprising a ground terminal and a voltage terminal, a conductive stopping element positioned on the upright surface and adapted to be connected to the voltage terminal thereby obtaining a growth limiting boundary for the creeper plants, and a grounding element positioned on the upright surface and adapted to be connected to the ground terminal, thereby providing a grounding of the upright surface. The grounding element is positioned such that the grounding element grounds the creeper plants by contact with the creeper plants within a distance of a hundred centimetres from the conductive stopping element.

An electrical energy processing unit of an apparatus to kill a plant or at least attenuate plant growth is disclosed. The electrical energy processing unit includes a converter and a control circuit. Also disclosed are an apparatus that includes the electrical energy processing unit and a method of utilizing the apparatus. Further disclosed are a computer program for a processor of the control circuit of the electrical energy processing unit and a non-transitory computer readable medium that includes the computer program.

An electrical energy processing unit of an apparatus to kill a plant or at least attenuate plant growth is disclosed. The electrical energy processing unit includes a converter and a control circuit. Also disclosed are an apparatus that includes the electrical energy processing unit and a method of utilizing the apparatus. Further disclosed are a computer program for a processor of the control circuit of the electrical energy processing unit and a non-transitory computer readable medium that includes the computer program.