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 the electrical circuitry arranged to control an electrical impedance of the electrical energy supply unit to control a property of the electrical energy to the electrodes.

A method for weed control, including: (a) providing an electrode coupled to a power source via a power provision arrangement; and (b) delivering an electrostatic shock on or near a weed plant via the electrode. A device for performing electrostatic weeding, including: (a) an electrode; (b) a handle, coupled to the electrode; and (c) a power provision arrangement operationally coupled to a power source, the power provision arrangement being in electrical communication with the electrode; wherein the electrode is adapted to provide an electrostatic shock to a weed plant so as to damage or destroy the weed plant.

A system for controlling vegetation within a field may include an implement frame and a ground-engaging tool supported on the implement frame. The ground-engaging tool may, in turn, be configured to perform an agricultural operation on the field as the implement frame is moved across the field. Furthermore, the system may include an electrode supported on the implement frame. As such, when a plant within the field contacts the electrode as the implement frame is moved across the field, an electric current is discharged from the electrode into the plant.

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 classifies each pixel in the image as ground pixels or plant pixels. The control system then determines a ground plane for the image based on the classified ground pixels and corrects the pixels in the image based on the determined ground plane. Plant pixels in the image can represent plants and the control system identifies plant pixel clusters as plants. The difference in height of plants relative to other plants in a field can be indicative for plant treatments. As such, the control system determines a height of each plant pixel cluster relative to the ground plane and compares the height of the pixel cluster to other plant pixel clusters in the field. Based on the determined height dissimilarity, the control system can identify the plant for treatment and actuate treatment mechanisms to treat the plant.

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 spraying fluid at agricultural objects. The treatment unit is configured with a treatment head assembly that includes a moveable treatment head with one or more spraying 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.

Systems and methods for treating a plant in a geographic area are disclosed. In one aspect, an agricultural treatment system can include a vehicle having a body and one or more legs operably connected to the body. The vehicle can also include an engine control unit configured to control motion of the vehicle. The system can include one or more image capture devices including a camera configured to capture images of a ground scene or terrain. The system can include an on-board computing system configured to identify features of the images of the ground scene including a target plant. The system can include a treatment unit configured to target and emit a laser beam on at least a portion of a plant located on the terrain.

A weed electrocution system comprises a tool bar section comprising a central tool bar and one or more peripheral tool bars pivotable relative to the central tool bar. A mount is adapted to mount the tool bar section to a tractor. A first electrode is associated with the central tool bar, and a a second electrode is associated with the second tool bar. When an electric current is supplied to the first and second electrodes, the electrodes are able to electrocute weeds that come in contact with the electrodes. A ground wheel connected to a peripheral tool bar causes the peripheral tool bar and the second electrode to adjust to the contour of the land.

An apparatus to electrically kill a plant or at least attenuate plant growth is disclosed herein, wherein the apparatus comprises at least an electrical energy processing unit and an electrical continuity system. Also disclosed are methods of producing and using same.

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.

The present invention relates to a railway weed control vehicle. It is described to activate (110) at least one weed control unit to control weeds along and around a railway track. The railway track comprises rails and sleepers. The at least one electrode based weed control unit is mounted at at least one first position of the vehicle. Sensor data is acquired (120) by at least one sensor. The sensor data relates to at least one location along and around the railway track. The at least one sensor is mounted at at least one second position of the vehicle. With respect to a forward movement direction of the vehicle the at least one second position is in front of the at least one first position. The sensor data is provided (130) to a processing unit. The sensor data is analysed (140) by the processing unit to determine locations of rail infrastructure components in addition to the rails and sleepers. The processing unit modifies (150) activation of one or more electrode based weed control units of the at least one electrode based weed control unit comprising utilisation of at least one location of the determined locations of the rail infrastructure components.