Set phasers to kill: Drones could be used to zap weeds

Drone-mounted lasers could be used to zap weeds that are posing a billion-dollar problem for New Zealand.

AgResearch, partnered with the University of Auckland and NZ-based technology firm Redfern Solutions Limited, has been awarded just under $1 million from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment's Endeavour Fund to look into how to "map and zap" the many weeds plaguing NZ.

A recent study led by AgResearch concluded from available research that the known costs of weeds to New Zealand agriculture was at least $1 billion a year, but that the true cost from all weeds was likely to be much higher.

Environmentally friendly tools are being urgently sought for the early control of these weeds.

Kioumars Ghamkhar, programme leader says, "The idea is to mount specialist cameras on the drone that can first identify the weeds based on their unique chemical signatures and how they reflect light, and precisely map their locations using GPS.

"From there, we think smart spraying or the right kind of laser mounted on the drone could hone in and damage the weed."

"We know there are lasers now available that could be suitable, and that they are extremely accurate, so if lasers are used, it would also avoid damaging the useful plants around the weed.

Current methods for tackling weeds can be very expensive and time-consuming, and often involve chemicals which can impact on crops, soil quality or water sources.

Ghamkhar continues, "We want to develop something that could be an effective option for users such as farmers, regional councils and the Department of Conservation.

"We've already spoken with our collaborators in the universities about the lasers that are available that might be suitable.

"The effectiveness of lasers against plants has been tested overseas before but that was in the lab, and we'll be taking it out in the field to test and see if it works as we have planned.

They plan to start testing of different laser types with plants at three different stages of growth in the lab, and from there they will select the best form of laser to see its impacts on the weeds out on a farm.

Ghamkhar stating, "There are issues we would have to consider such as heat generated by the lasers, and the risk of starting a fire, and we'll be very conscious of this particularly where there are dry days or drought conditions.

"We'll also be looking at using a group of small lasers to direct at the weed, as opposed to one large and powerful laser that might generate more heat.

The method of identifying different plants by chemical signature has already been shown to be workable in other AgResearch projects, and the challenge is to accurately identify weeds in the same way so the use of the drone-mounted laser can be effective.

The programme is funded for a period of three years, and if successful could lead to a potential commercial development.