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.
Repasky
Kevin S
KS
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Cobleigh 610, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59717, USA. repasky@ece.montana.edu
Shaw
Joseph A
JA
Scheppele
Ryan
R
Melton
Christopher
C
Carsten
John L
JL
Spangler
Lee H
LH
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*