Optical detection of honeybees by use of wing-beat modulation of scattered laser light for locating explosives and land mines.
An instrument is demonstrated that can be used for optical detection of honeybees in a cluttered environment. The instrument uses a continuous-wave diode laser with a center wavelength of 808 nm and an output power of 28 mW as the laser transmitter source. Light scattered from moving honeybee wings will produce an intensity-modulated signal at a characteristic wing-beat frequency (170-270 Hz) that can be used to detect the honeybees against a cluttered background. The optical detection of honeybees has application in the biological detection of land mines and explosives, as was recently demonstrated.
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Cobleigh 610, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59717, USA. repasky@ece.montana.edu
Kevin S
KS
Repasky
Joseph A
JA
Shaw
Ryan
R
Scheppele
Christopher
C
Melton
John L
JL
Carsten
Lee H
LH
Spangler
D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008027:Light; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D055095:Optics and Photonics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010783:Photometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012637:Security Measures; D014857:Warfare; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000502:physiology*