A ground surface treatment vehicle and systems and methods using the same. In some embodiments, the vehicle may be adapted to autonomously or semi-autonomously identify and optionally treat target areas such as divots on turf surfaces. The vehicle may identify the target area via onboard or remote sensors and autonomously treat the target area by providing a treating material such as infill, seed, particulate matter, and liquids.

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 may determine a first real-world geo-spatial location of the treatment system. The system can receive captured images depicting real-world agricultural objects of a geographic scene. The system can associate captured images with the determined geo-spatial location of the treatment system. The treatment system can identify, from a group of mapped and indexed images, images having a second real-word geo-spatial location that is proximate with the first real-world geo-spatial location. The treatment system can compare at least a portion of the identified images with at least a portion of the captured images. The treatment system can determine a target object and emit a fluid projectile at the target object using a treatment device.

An agricultural product delivery applicator for delivering particulate product to a field. The applicator includes a supply compartment to hold the product and a pneumatic conveying system. The system includes an airflow source to provide an airflow, and a delivery line operably connected to the airflow source and to the supply compartment. The delivery line includes a supply line and a plurality of distribution lines. The system further includes a distributor coupling the supply line with the plurality of distribution lines, a plurality of distributor outlets providing outlet channels for the distributor, and a motor mount disposed away from the aperture along an axis and supported by one or more of the plurality of distributor outlets. A motor is disposed on a delivery lines side of the distributor and fastened to the motor mount.

Systems and methods for dispensing measured amounts of a granular material, wherein one embodiment is a dispensing apparatus having a dispensing body, a handle and a handle extension coupled between the handle and the dispensing body. The dispensing body has a measuring container with a cavity of known volume, as well as a filling mechanism and a dispensing mechanism. The filling mechanism is selectively activated to fill the cavity of the measuring container with the granular material, and the dispensing mechanism is selectively activated to release the granular material from the cavity to dispense only the predetermined amount of the granular material that fills the cavity of the measuring container from the apparatus. A trigger on the handle is coupled to the filling mechanism and the dispensing mechanism via a linkage in the handle extension, and activation of the trigger selectively activates the filling mechanism and the dispensing mechanism.

An apparatus for weed control includes a processing unit that receives at least one image of an environment. The processing unit analyses the at least one image to determine at least one vegetation control technology from a plurality of vegetation control technologies to be used for weed control for at least a first part of the environment. An output unit outputs information that is useable to activate the at least one vegetation control technology.

A system and method that automatically monitors product use, such as the type and amount of agricultural and/or horticultural product stored in and dispensed from a cartridge over time and/or by geographic location. Monitored data are stored in memory such as a tag on the cartridge and may be transmitted to a server for storage, aggregation, and analysis. The cartridge may be authenticated before being authorized for use for the benefit of a current user in dispensing the product. The cartridge may be refilled after confirmation of authorization codes on the cartridge and refilling equipment tags. The cartridge may be calibrated automatically based on the bulk density or other parameter of the product in the cartridge. Data may be aggregated from a plurality of cartridges automatically. As-applied data from individual cartridges may be used to verify, independent of operator input, treated area coverage and product application rate.

A gardening material dispensing apparatus configured for dispensing gardening material. The gardening material dispensing apparatus includes a convertible container assembly configured to contain a supply of the gardening material, a dispensing conduit configured to flow the gardening material from the container assembly continually based on gravity to a selected area, and at least one material agitator assembly operably coupled to the dispensing conduit and configured to controlled quantities of the gardening material by controlling a speed of rotation of an agitator impeller. The dispensing conduit dispenses a precise amount of the gardening material continuously onto the selected area.

The present invention is directed to a compact robotic device for spraying a biocide powder or liquid to a predetermined area for controlling the infestation by cockroaches and fleas. The compact robotic device comprises a robotic body that can autonomously travel to spray the powder or liquid. The compact robotic device comprises a cartridge containing the biocide powder, a spray head in fluid communication with the cartridge and configured to spray the powder or liquid over a surface and a pump coupled to the cartridge for affecting the flow of powder or liquid from the cartridge to the spray head.

An agricultural implement (10) includes a frame supported by a plurality of wheels and carrying a toolbar (22) and at least one central hopper (20), a plurality of material applicators (204) carried by the toolbar (22), and a plurality of flow lines (26) fluidly connecting the at least one central hopper (20) to the material applicators (204). Each flow line (26) includes at least one composite elbow (210), and each composite elbow (210) has a polymeric body (302) and a wear-resistant plate (314) within the polymeric body (302). The outlet of the polymeric body (302) has an orientation different from the inlet (304) thereof, and the wear-resistant plate (314) is oriented to deflect material traveling along a central longitudinal axis (A1) of the inlet (304) toward a direction of a central longitudinal axis (A2) of the outlet (306). A method of forming a composite elbow (210) includes disposing a wear-resistant plate (314) within a polymeric body (302) as disclosed.

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 system uses a pump in combination with a fluid regulator to obtain and disperse fluid from the fluid tanks. The fluid regulator includes a fluid input port, a fluid output port and a fluid control valve. A first tube fluidly coupled from the fluid pump to the fluid input port. The system includes a moveable treatment head having one or more spraying tips, including a first spraying tip. A second tube is fluidly coupled from the fluid output port to the moveable treatment head. A system includes a controller configured to provide to the fluid regulator to open and close the fluid control valve to release an amount of the first fluid.