Patent ID: 6443365
Filing Date: 2002-09-03
Classification: A01M,B05B,G01N

Abstract:
A device for discriminating different types of ground vegetation, the device comprising:an artificial source of electromagnetic radiation for directing a beam of radiation onto the vegetation; a plurality of sensors for detecting radiation from said radiation source reflected onto each of said sensors from the vegetation in a selected frequency band and generating a sensing signal from each sensor in response to said detection, and wherein said plurality of sensors are arranged in a sensor array with a geometric configuration adapted to aid in discriminating different types of vegetation; signal processing means for determining whether a magnitude of each said sensing signal falls within a predetermined range of values whereby, in use, one type of vegetation can be distinguished from another type based on the magnitudes of said sensing signals; and, a shroud comprising a sheet of flexible, light-impervious material of sufficient length so as to extend to a height of between 10 to 500 mm above the target vegetation whereby, in use, said shroud minimises the amount of sunlight reflected from the vegetation.