Farming with Laser Death Rays

Lasers used in both military and civilian applications are on certainly on the rise as laser technology advances. Have you ever considered lasers being used for farming applications? Well Weed killers and herbicides must be toxic enough to kill the weeds they target. Thus, toxicity concerns -- ranging from protecting the workers using the chemicals to groundwater contamination -- confront any user of herbicides.

Researchers at the Leibniz University in Hannover, Germany, may have an answer: weed-killing lasers.

Farming with Laser Death Rays Sounds like a great idea? But If the lasers used have too little energy, weeds like it. Laser lights of the wrong intensity make the unwanted plants grow like weeds, only more so. The Leibniz team has worked to determine the optimum laser intensity to kill the weeds rather than encourage growth.

The second major obstacle is recognizing which plants to target with the laser death rays. The researchers have developed a system of cameras that film the field, and software that measures the contures of every plant. Algorithms have been developed for recognizing many different types of weeds.

The researchers are currently considering whether robots or drones can bring the equipment into position precisely enough over large areas to effectively recognize and blast the weeds with the laser death ray while leaving the desired cash crop unharmed.

Could we be seeing lasers shooting across the skies soon? From this story it appears that answer will be yes. This story is also a great example of how tracking and laser technology could actually have a beneficial use on society and not just an oppressive one. Though one has to wonder isn't this how these forms of technology are always accepted, by providing a benefit at first? Some also may think using lasers versus pesticides may not be more cost effective at first but is it safer for the environment? That is the key component in the development of this laser technology. Yet another "benefit" think about it...