Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for controlling spraying of chemicals by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). An unmanned aerial vehicle system includes one or more processors configured to perform operations of autonomously performing a flight path by the UAV and dispersing a chemical by the UAV along portions of the flight path. The UAV may include a chemical spray system having one or more spray booms with multiple nozzles for dispersing a chemical. The chemical spray system may include one or more tanks attached to the body of the UAV and a pump fluidly connected to the tanks to disperse chemical via the spray booms.

Various embodiments detect and manage target vegetation in vegetation areas, including crop beds, between crop beds, and turfgrasses. In one embodiment, a machine learning model is trained to detect target vegetation in captured images. An information processing system is programmed utilizing the machine learning model. One or more images of a particular area are captured, and target vegetation is detected within the one or more images. A position of the detected target vegetation is determined within the one or more images. An applicator disposed on an agrochemical applicator system that is mapped to the position of the detected target vegetation within the one or more images is determined. The applicator is activated based on a current speed of a vehicle coupled to the agrochemical applicator system, and further based on configuration data associated with the applicator. Activating the applicator selectively applies an agrochemical to the detected target vegetation.

Optical remote sensing systems for quantifying aerial or aquatic fauna with respect to number of living organisms, such as animals, such as insects, birds, bats or aquatic organisms, and to biological specificity.

The present disclosure is directed to spray boom for aerial spraying comprising an elongate housing operable to be mounted to an underside of an aircraft, the elongate housing defining a hollow cavity, and a plurality of couplings positioned along at least a portion of a length of the elongate housing, wherein each of the plurality of couplings comprises a cylindrical boss that is unitary with and thermally formed from the elongate housing.

Various embodiments of an apparatus, methods, systems and computer program products described herein are directed to an agricultural observation and treatment system and method of operation. The agricultural treatment system uses a treatment unit for emitting a laser at agricultural objects. The treatment unit is configured with a treatment head assembly that includes a moveable treatment head with one or more laser emitting tips. A first and second motor assembly are operated by the treatment unit to control the movement of the treatment head. The first motor assembly includes a first motor rotatable in a first rotational axis. A first linkage assembly is connected to the first motor and the treatment head assembly. The first linkage assembly is rotatable by the first motor. The second linkage assembly is rotatable by the second motor.

A retractable spray shield for agricultural use has a spray barrier; a clam-shell storage tube; a deployment and concealment drive having a motor, a drive shaft, and a quadrilateral linkage that in one direction deploys the spray barrier from the storage tube and in a second opposed direction conceals the spray barrier within the clam-shell storage tube. The quadrilateral linkage is defined by a rotating arm; a pushing arm coupled to the drive shaft; the bottom of the claim-shell storage tube, and a hinge plate supporting the spray barrier. The spray barrier has a generally triangular and flaccid liquid barrier film, a pair of framing legs coupled to opposed edges of the liquid barrier film, and a spring configured to operatively stretch the pair of framing legs apart from each other and thereby expand the barrier film toward a planar, generally triangular geometry when deployed.

An agricultural method includes providing a positive air pressure chamber to prevent outside contaminants from entering the chamber; growing crops in a plurality of cells in the chamber, each cell having multi-grow benches or levels, each cell further having connectors to vertical hoists for vertical movements in the chamber; maintaining pre-set temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, watering and lighting levels to achieve predetermined plant growth; using motorized transport rails to deliver benches for operations including seeding, harvesting, grow media recovery, and bench wash; dispensing seeds in the cell with a mechanical seeder coupled to the transport rails; growing the crops with computer controlled nutrients, light and air level; and harvesting the crops and delivering the harvested crop at a selected outlet of the chamber.

A discharge apparatus for an aerial vehicle is provided which is capable of mounting an aerosol container by effectively utilizing a space outside an airframe.

The discharge apparatus for an aerial vehicle, in which a content is discharged through a nozzle from an aerosol container mounted on an airframe, is characterized in that the aerosol container is mounted outside the airframe, and is arranged so that a central axis of the aerosol container is along a pitch axis of the airframe, or arranged on an extension portion such as a small wing extending from a fuselage of the airframe, an arm portion provided with a rotor blade, a leg portion for taking off and landing, or the like, with the aerosol container and the nozzle being connected to each other through a tube.

Apparatus, systems and methods for the application of water, fertilizers and herbicides to municipal plants, crop plants, indoor plants, nursery plants and the like. A self-powered mobile apparatus delivers a liquid agent. The apparatus has a reservoir for the agent and a dispenser, electronic plant identifier or geographic locator, and an electronic controller to control delivery of the agent based on an output of the electronic plant identifier or geographic locator, or an output of a remote electronic plant identifier or geographic locator.

A method for dispensing at least one liquid medium with the aid of a spray nozzle unit, in particular for agricultural purposes. The spray nozzle unit includes at least one spray nozzle via which the medium is dispensed, and at least one sensor device via which a biomass, in particular weeds, is/are recognized. With knowledge of the location of the biomass, the at least one spray nozzle is activated in order to dispense the medium onto the biomass.