Who we are
The purpose behind the formation of the Photonic Group was to determine if it was possible to create an automated detection system that used light to distinguish one plant from another.
Since that time, the Group has made several key discoveries leading to the lodgement of various patent families in various countries, including Australia, Canada, USA, and Europe.
In 2017, the Group realised that real-time identification using only one discrimination mechanism (spectral reflectance) did not, of it itself, allow for the requisite discrimination in all instances encountered, so a decision was made to identify a suitable complimentary detection technology that could be combined or hybridised with spectral reflectance to generate superior discrimination rates. Imaging technology was found to be the best complementary technology and the system now developed uses a combination of image data and spectral reflectance data, collected simultaneously, with both data streams being blended and ultimately analysed via the application of artificial intelligence in our proprietary neural net.
Selective spraying using Photonic Group detection
As a result of the work done, the Group has determined that the generation of spectral reflectance data by illuminating a target with a selection of specific laser wavelengths and the collection and analysis of that spectral reflectance data in real time, combined with image data collected at the same time does indeed enable the detection unit to distinguish one plant from another.
Having distinguished one plant from another, the system can then be programmed to make a range of decisions – within an agricultural environment, these decisions are typically Spray Plant A, ignore all other plants, or ignore Plant A, spray everything else, however, once the identification is made, the decisions and actions following from that identification are totally contained with the system programming.
As the US Marines have observed – “If you can see a target, you can hit it, and if you can hit it, you can kill it.”
Real time identification & spraying
The initial step is the most difficult – the seeing of the target – what our detection unit does is provide a substitute for the human eye (but is not limited to the human eye limitations in terms of only using the visible light portion of the entire electromagnetic spectrum) to identify a target in real time. Once that identification is made, decisions and actions will follow, subject only to the pre-programmed instructions of the system.
Structure
The Photonic Group is composed of two Australian proprietary companies:
- Photonic Holdings Pty Ltd
- Photonic Detection Systems Pty Ltd
Photonic Holdings Pty Ltd is the holding company of the Group. Various shareholders, over time, have invested in the Group in return of shares in Photonic Holdings Pty Ltd.
Photonic Detection Systems Pty Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Photonic Holdings Pty Ltd and is currently the vehicle used by the Group to undertake research.