Patent classifications
B64U2101/40
Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-assisted worksite data acquisition
Worksite data from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is received and an indication of the worksite data is generated. A quality of the received worksite data is calculated based on quality data within the received worksite data. Control signals are generated and provided to the UAV based on the calculated quality of the received worksite data. Additional worksite data corresponding to a modified surface of a worksite area is received from a plurality of mobile machines at the worksite area. A worksite error is calculated for the modified surface of the worksite area. Control signals are generated and provided to a UAV based on the calculated worksite error for the modified surface of the worksite area.
Agricultural aircraft for spreading granular fertilizer and spreading method thereof
An agricultural aircraft for spreading granular fertilizer and a spreading method thereof. The agricultural aircraft includes an aircraft body, a power system, and a spreading device, where the spreading device is located at a front part of the aircraft body, and the aircraft body is also provided at the front thereof with a wind direction sensor and a wind speed sensor communicatively connected a controller; the spreading device includes a box body, a throwing disc, and a tray connected to the box body, where a left baffle plate and a right baffle plate with controllable opening angles are disposed on the tray; an upper part of the box body is a material box for storing granular fertilizer, a cavity for accommodating the tray and the throwing disc is disposed on one side of the box body.
Farm drone
A drone with vehicular control system/sensors that can share data with other vehicles and that can communicate with the cloud to provide intelligent handling of the irrigation system. The drone can be used to dispense soil additives and to inspect plants/trees on the farm.
AUTONOMOUS CROP MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD
A system for autonomous crop monitoring, the system comprising a mobile platform having one or a plurality of imaging devices configured to autonomously travel a path to scan a plurality of inspection regions in a field of crop and obtain images of the inspection regions; and a processor configured to analyze the acquired images to detect an agricultural condition that requires attention (ACRA) and determine the location of that ACRA.
MATERIAL BROADCASTING DEVICE, UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE, AND MATERIAL BROADCASTING METHOD
Provided are a material broadcasting device, an unmanned aerial vehicle, and a material broadcasting method. The material broadcasting device includes a material picker, a material receiver, a material feeder, and a controller. The material picker includes a housing having an upper opening and a lower opening; and a material picking wheel located at the lower opening and driven by a driving member to rotate. The upper opening is in communication with a material box. Material picking cavities for accommodating materials are provided on the material picking wheel. The controller is electrically connected to the driving member. The material receiver is located below the material picking wheel and is in communication with the material feeder.
Software process for tending crops using a UAV
A software process for controlling a configurable UAV that includes a plurality of databases of crop plants, herbicides, insecticides and weeds. An area is defined to be treated. Thereafter, a scout UAV with an on-board camera is flown over the pre-defined area. Images detected by the camera are compared with the crop, pest and weed databases to respectively identify the crop plants, insects, and weeds. The insects and weeds are then subjected to a spot blast of pesticide/herbicide to kill them. Thus, the process results in a more efficient application of treatment chemicals which leads to less adverse environmental impacts associated with the use of pesticides and herbicides.
Unmanned aerial vehicle operating method and device
Provided are an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) operating method and device. The method includes that: mapping information of an operation object to be operated is acquired, the mapping information including a safe height, geographic position information and a spray radius, of the operation object; a flight height of the UAV is adjusted to the safe height, and the UAV flies, according to the safe height, to a position corresponding to the geographic position information; and at the position corresponding to the geographic position information, a spiral spraying operation is performed on the operation object based on the spray radius (103).
Disbursement system for an unmanned aerial vehicle
A disbursement system for a UAV is provided. The disbursement system may include a plurality of disbursement nozzles operable to dispense an agricultural product at variable flowrates, a flow controller responsive to instructions and operable to regulate a volume of the agricultural product dispensed by the disbursement nozzles, and a control system. The control system may include a plurality of sensors operable to monitor a plurality of flight parameters and a processing unit configured to model an effect of the plurality of flight parameters on first flow control instructions corresponding to a prescription coverage of the agricultural product and calculate and output modulated flow control instructions to the flow controller. The control system may modulate the first control instructions to change a flowrate of one or more of the plurality of disbursement nozzles to achieve an actual coverage of the agricultural product that is closer to the prescription coverage.
MOBILE ANALYSIS AND PROCESSING DEVICE
The invention relates to a mobile analysis and processing device (14) for agriculture for processing the soil and/or manipulating flora and fauna. The device (14) comprises at least one sensor (62), a tool unit (52) having at least one motor-driven tool (58), an actuator (48) for moving at least the tool (58) of the tool unit (52), a motor (50) for driving the tool (58) and/or the actuator (48), a database (78), a first communication unit (60) having an interface (70a), and a first computer (46) for controlling the sensor (62), the tool unit (52) and the actuator (48) by means of generated control commands. The data captured by means of the sensor (62) are continually compared with the data stored in the database (78) in order to generate corresponding control signals for the actuator (48), the tool unit (52) and/or the motor (50). By means of said device, mobility and flexibility are created, in accordance with which flexibility the device (14) forms a unit by means of which all data can be processed in real time, control signals can be generated for the actuator (48), the tool unit (52) and/or the motor (50) and immediate operation in accordance with the control signals is possible. Thus, combination with, for example, different carriers (12), which move the device (14) over the field if necessary, is possible.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING SEEDBED CONDITIONS USING A SEEDBED SENSING ASSEMBLY SUPPORTED ON A UAV
In one aspect, a system for monitoring seedbed conditions within a field may include an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a seedbed sensing assembly supported thereon. The sensing assembly may, in turn, include a plurality of pins configured to be extended relative to the body such that each pin penetrates a top surface of the field. Furthermore, a plurality of position sensors may be configured to capture data indicative of a position of a given pin of the plurality of pins relative to the body of the UAV. Additionally, a plurality of force sensors may be configured to capture data indicative of a force being applied to a given pin of the plurality of pins. As such, the data captured by the position sensors and the force sensors may be indicative of at least one of the seedbed surface profile or the seedbed floor profile of the field.