GRASSHOPPER HARVESTING SYSTEM

Abstract

A grasshopper harvesting system for collecting grasshoppers featuring a vehicle, a collection array, a transfer mechanism, and a storage container or shredder. The system can be attached to an existing vehicle such as a tractor, ATV, truck, or a GPS-controlled autonomous vehicle that can be programmed to collect grasshoppers according to a particular desired route of a particular field, to protect crops or for consumption purposes. Further, the system may feature a detachable bin that empties the grasshoppers when the bin is full. The system may collect grasshopper pests in organic fields, reduce locust swarm densities in breeding grounds, and harvest grasshoppers from rangeland. The grasshoppers may either be destroyed or processed as edible insects for food and feed.

Claims

1. A grasshopper harvesting system (100) for collecting grasshoppers on a field or surface, said system (100) comprising: a. a capture assembly (160) comprising sideboards and a backboard, wherein the collection array is configured to sequester the grasshoppers that jump into the capture assembly (160) when the system (100) drives on the field or surface; b. a vacuum system (150) operatively coupled with a bottom surface of the collection array (110); c. a storage container (130), wherein the vacuum system (150) is configured to deliver the grasshoppers from the capture assembly (160) to the storage container (130), wherein the storage container is removable; and d. a power source.

2. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein the vacuum system (150) is operatively coupled with a bottom surface of the capture assembly (160) via one or more vacuum hoses, wherein an exhaust (152) of the vacuum system (150) is configured to push grasshoppers into an inlet of the vacuum system (150).

3. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein both an inlet of the vacuum system (150) and an outlet of the vacuum system (150) are connected to a bottom surface of the capture assembly (160), to create a closed-loop vacuum system (150).

4. The system (100) of claim 3, wherein the bottom surface of the capture assembly (160) comprises an open trough (110).

5. The system (100) of claim 1 further comprising a movable cart, an autonomous vehicle, a tractor, an ATV type vehicle, a truck, or any vehicle suitable for rural terrain.

6. The system (100) of claim 5, wherein the storage container (130) is disposed on the movable cart.

7. The system (100) of claim 5, wherein the storage container (130) is disposed on a trailer behind the movable cart.

8. The system (100) of claim 5, wherein the movable cart is configured to be remotely controlled.

9. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein the storage container (130) comprises a shredding component.

10. A grasshopper harvesting system (100) for collecting grasshoppers on a field or surface, said system (100) comprising a vacuum system (150) configured to transfer the grasshoppers to a storage container (130) without killing the grasshoppers.

11. The system (100) of claim 10, wherein the system (100) is configured to be coupled with a tractor or all-terrain vehicle.

12. The system (100) of claim 10, wherein the grasshoppers are preserved in a food-grade condition.

13. A grasshopper harvesting system (100) for collecting grasshoppers on a field or surface, said system (100) comprising: a. a vehicle (200); and b. a capture assembly (160) coupled to the vehicle (200), the capture assembly (160) comprising: i. a collection array (110) comprising sideboards and a backboard, wherein the collection array (110) is configured to capture the grasshoppers that jump into the collection array (110) when the system (100) drives on the field or surface; ii. a transfer system disposed in a bottom surface of the collection array (110); iii. a vacuum transfer system, wherein the transfer system is configured to deliver the grasshoppers from the collection array (110) to a storage container (130), wherein the storage container (130) is removable; and iv. a power source.

14. The system (100) of claim 13, wherein the vehicle (200) comprises balloon tires.

15. The system (100) of claim 13 further comprising a sensor operatively connected to the storage container (130), configured to determine a weight or volume of the storage container (130).

16. The system (100) of claim 15, wherein the sensor is operatively connected to a microprocessor.

17. The system (100) of claim 16, wherein the microprocessor is configured to cause the system (100) to drive to a particular location when the microprocessor detects that the sensor detects that the storage container (130) is full.

18. The system (100) of claim 13, wherein the power source is a rechargeable or replaceable battery, gas generator, or power-takeoff (PTO) of the vehicle (200).

19. The system (100) of claim 13, wherein a shredder substitutes for the storage container.

20-29. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description presented in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0014] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a grasshopper harvesting system of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the configuration or components in FIG. 1.

[0015] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the grasshopper harvesting system of the present invention as an attachment to a GPS controlled vehicle. The power and guidance systems are not shown for simplicity.

[0016] FIG. 3 shows an alternate schematic view of the grasshopper harvesting system of the present invention as an attachment to an ATV or tractor specifically.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Potential applications of the grasshopper harvester: Grasslands comprise about 40% of terrestrial habitats and grasshoppers are the dominant group of insects in grasslands. In one embodiment, the present invention features a mechanized device for the collection of grasshoppers. Four non-limiting target applications for such a device include organic farming, locust swarm mitigation, rangeland management, and grasshopper ranching.

[0018] Organic Farmers. The grasshopper harvester may be deployed to remove grasshopper pests from organically grown crop fields. Organic farms do not typically use pesticides and are thus susceptible to significant grasshopper damage. Harvesters of the present invention may allow them to mitigate crop damage from grasshoppers. The farmer benefits from pest control at a low cost, without the use of pesticides. The grasshopper harvester may also be deployed for other crop pests that have a behavior making them susceptible to being caught in the collection array.

[0019] Locust swarm mitigation. Larger, more robust harvesters with larger capacities could be stored in areas susceptible to locust swarms (such as Africa and the Middle East). Once an alert for potential locust swarms is given by the organizations that monitor locust swarm formation, these harvesters may be transported to the breeding grounds to reduce locust densities. Locust swarms may be harvested in the nymphal stage when they do not fly and have limited control over their jump trajectory. The harvester is designed to take advantage of its lack of jump control. These grasshopper nymphs can either be processed for food or feed or destroyed.

[0020] Rangeland management. Grasshoppers compete with livestock for grass forage. The grasshopper harvester can be deployed as an alternative to chemical pesticide spraying thereby reducing negative environmental impacts.

[0021] Grasshopper ranching. The grasshopper harvester may be used to collect grasshoppers from rangeland as protein for human consumption or as feed for livestock or fish. Grasshoppers are 12 times more efficient at converting grass into protein than cattle. Grasshoppers use orders of magnitude less water than cattle. Grasshoppers do not have veterinary bills or transportation costs. (The hoppers may be easily collected and transported). Ranchers benefit from protein production at almost no cost with environmental benefits from reduced water use and sustaining natural grassland habitats. The environmental damage caused by the widespread application of pesticides may be reduced or eliminated. Ultimately, ranchers may grow grasshoppers instead of cattle or grow protein in combinations of cattle and grasshoppers.

[0022] The harvester: The harvester may be attached to a wheeled vehicle and may comprise a capture assembly, transfer mechanism, and storage container. Grasshoppers may be collected as they jump, then transferred via a vacuum system into a storage container. If the grasshoppers are to be conserved for food or feed, the storage container may be cooled until the captured grasshoppers are deposited in a processing facility. In some embodiments, the grasshopper harvester may comprise a shredder that kills the grasshoppers and drops the carcasses back onto the soil as a fertilizer.

[0023] The harvester may be an attachment, attached to existing farm vehicles such as a tractor, ATV, truck, or other vehicles when grasshopper densities warrant mitigation, then removed from the vehicles when no longer needed. In other embodiments, the grasshopper harvester may be permanently affixed to a vehicle awaiting deployment such as for locust swarms.

[0024] The harvester may be attached to an automated, autonomous vehicle. As a non-limiting example, the harvester may be GPS-controlled. The operator may assign each harvester a preprogrammed route depending on the field and harvesting goal. Each harvester may have sensors to be able to avoid obstacles on its own. The harvester may have sensors to determine the load of grasshoppers and/or sensors to determine battery life or fuel available in the gas tank. The harvester may automatically return to a predetermined base once the storage bin is full, or the battery charge/fuel tank drops below a predetermined threshold, whichever comes first. The bin and battery may then be swapped, or the fuel tank refilled so that the harvester can resume harvesting. A single harvester may be deployed, or a fleet of interacting harvesters may be deployed as needed. As a non-limiting example, the fleet of interacting harvesters may function synergistically to capture grasshoppers that jump out of each other's path or even to herd the grasshoppers into a concentrated group for capture. In some embodiments, one or more harvesters may be used in conjunction with one or more herding drones which fly over an area to herd grasshoppers into a concentrated group for capture. In some embodiments, ribbons that hang from the herding drones may cause the grasshoppers to jump away from the ribbons. Causing the grasshoppers to jump may additionally tire them, such that they are more easily captured by the harvester.

[0025] Individual harvesters within fleets may communicate location and grasshopper density to each other. The fleet as a whole may operate using swarm artificial intelligence (AI) technology to ensure harvester trajectories maximize capture. The AI may operate both at the level of the fleet, as well as to adjust the speed and direction of individual harvesters based on the densities and jump trajectories of the grasshopper nymphs.

[0026] Grasshopper harvesters of the present invention may take advantage of the limited jump control of non-flying grasshoppers and nymphal stages. The jump trajectories differ with species, density, nymphal stage, temperature, cloud cover, plant community, and other biotic and abiotic factors. The harvester may incorporate image analysis to assess the jump trajectories and grasshopper densities. The speed and direction of the harvester may be adjusted by AI to maximize capture as conditions change.

[0027] The harvester path may be controlled via a combination of feedback from harvester sensors, AI, GPS, a preprogrammed route or a driver. For organic farmers, this path may ensure that the wheels of the harvester remain in the rows of the organic crop field, to minimize damage to the crops. For ranching grasshoppers, the sensors and route program may ensure areas are skipped to provide future generations of grasshoppers with sustainable harvesting. For locust swarms, the path may move towards the highest densities of locust nymphs to maximize capture.

[0028] The embodiments described herein are illustrative, but deployed harvesters may differ from the configuration of the examples shown and described herein, with different control, locomotion, transfer, capture, storage, and/or shredder mechanisms.

[0029] FIGS. 1-3 show detailed views of an embodiment of the grasshopper harvesting system (100) of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the configurations or parts shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, or FIG. 3.

[0030] In some embodiments, the present invention features a grasshopper harvesting system for collecting grasshoppers for various purposes, such as, but not limited to, protecting crops, such as organically-grown crops, or for consumption purposes. The grasshopper harvesting system may be attached to a vehicle (200) and may comprise a collection device (e.g., a collection array), a transfer mechanism (e.g., a vacuum system (150) and series of tubes or pipes (155), or other conveyor systems), and a storage container for storing the grasshoppers. The storage container is detachable to allow a user to empty the grasshoppers when the bin is full. As an alternative to capturing the grasshoppers for protein, the harvester may feature a shredder to kill the grasshoppers. The shredded grasshoppers can be dropped back to the ground as fertilizer. The system also features a power source, which may comprise a replaceable or rechargeable power source, such as a replaceable battery, a generator, or PTO. The grasshopper system can further comprise a GPS mechanism and a microprocessor. As previously discussed, the microprocessor can be programmed such that the system drives in a predetermined pattern on a field, e.g., based on operator input.

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a grasshopper harvesting system. In some embodiments, the grasshopper harvesting system comprises a collection array (e.g., with a backboard), a transfer mechanism (e.g., to transfer the grasshoppers from the collection array), and a storage container and/or shredder. In further embodiments, the grasshopper harvesting system may also include a wheeled vehicle (200).

[0032] As depicted in FIG. 1, the present invention features a grasshopper harvesting system comprising a collection array (110). The collection array (110) may comprise a backboard, one or more sideboards, and a baseboard. The backboard, side boards, and baseboard may comprise plastic, metal, or any other rigid material. The collection array (110) may be capable of collecting grasshoppers as the grasshopper harvesting system moves to contact them. A front of the collection array (110) may be left open so that the grasshoppers can jump into the collection array (110). The grasshopper harvesting system may further comprise a vacuum system (150) comprising a suction actuation component, a vacuum inlet, and a vacuum outlet/exhaust (152). The collection array (110) may be fluidly connected to the vacuum inlet of the vacuum system (150) at the baseboard by a first vacuum tubing component (155). The collection array (110) may be fluidly connected to the vacuum outlet of the vacuum system (150) at the baseboard by a second vacuum tubing component. Grasshoppers collected by the collection array (110) may be transported, e.g. suctioned, from the baseboard, through the first vacuum tubing component (155), to the vacuum system (150). Exhaust from the second vacuum tubing component may aid in pushing grasshoppers into the first vacuum tubing component. The grasshopper harvesting system may further comprise a storage container fluidly connected to the vacuum system (150). Grasshopper delivered to the vacuum system (150) may be dispensed into the storage container (130). Note that the storage container (130) is fluidly connected to the vacuum system (150) such that grasshoppers can enter the storage container (130) through the vacuum system (150), but cannot exit the storage container (130) through the vacuum system (150).

[0033] In some embodiment, the wheels (140) may be designed to have minimal impact on the crops or soil. For example, in some embodiments, the wheels comprise balloon tires.

[0034] According to some embodiments, the present invention features a grasshopper harvesting system (100) for collecting grasshoppers on a field or surface. In some embodiments, the system (100) may comprise a capture assembly (160) comprising sideboards and a backboard. The collection array may sequester grasshoppers that jump into the capture assembly (160) when the system (100) drives on the field or surface. The system (100) may comprise a vacuum system (150) operatively coupled with a bottom surface of the collection array (110), a storage container (130), wherein the vacuum system (150) delivers grasshoppers from the capture assembly (160) to the storage container (130), the storage container is removable, and a power source. In some embodiments, the vacuum system (150) may be operatively coupled with a bottom surface of the capture assembly (160) via one or more vacuum hoses. An exhaust (155) of the vacuum system (150) may serve to push grasshoppers into an inlet of the vacuum system (150). Both an inlet of the vacuum system (150) and an outlet of the vacuum system (150) may be connected to the bottom surface of the capture assembly (160), to create a closed-loop vacuum system (150). The bottom surface of the capture assembly (160) comprises an open trough.

[0035] In some embodiments, the system (100) may further comprise a movable cart, an autonomous vehicle, a tractor, an ATV type vehicle, a truck, or any vehicle suitable for rural terrain (200). In some embodiments, the storage container (130) may be disposed on the movable cart. In some embodiments, the storage container (130) may be disposed on a trailer behind the movable cart. In some embodiments, the movable cart may be configured to be remotely controlled.

[0036] In some embodiments, the system may further comprise a shredding or grinding component for shredding the collected grasshoppers. The shredding or grinding component may be coupled to or part of the storage container (130). The shredded grasshoppers may be used as a form of fertilizer. In other embodiments, the system can disperse or cast the grasshopper fertilizer onto the ground. For example, the system may further comprise a fertilizer spreader coupled to the shredding or grinding component.

[0037] The present invention features a grasshopper harvesting system (100) for collecting grasshoppers on a field or surface. In some embodiments, the system (100) may comprise a vehicle (200), and a capture assembly (160) coupled to the vehicle (200). The capture assembly (160) may comprise a collection array (110) comprising sideboards and a backboard. In some embodiments, the collection array captures grasshoppers that jump into the collection array (110) when the system (100) drives on the field or surface. The collection array may further comprise a transfer system disposed on a bottom surface of the collection array (110) for delivering grasshoppers to the storage container (130). The storage container may be removable. The system (100) may further comprise a power source.

[0038] In some embodiments, the wheel system may comprise balloon tires. The system (100) may further comprise a sensor operatively connected to the storage container capable of determining a weight of the storage container. The sensor may be operatively connected to the microprocessor. The microprocessor may cause the system (100) to drive to a particular location when the microprocessor detects that the pressure sensor detects that the storage container is full. In some embodiments, the power source may be a battery, gas generator, or power-takeoff (PTO) of the vehicle (200). In other embodiments, the power source may be a rechargeable battery or a replaceable battery. The system may be used to harvest grasshoppers to protect crops. The system may be used to harvest grasshoppers for consumption purposes.

[0039] Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims. In some embodiments, the figures are representative only and the claims are not limited by the dimensions of the figures. In some embodiments, descriptions of the inventions described herein using the phrase comprising includes embodiments that could be described as consisting essentially of or consisting of, and as such the written description requirement for claiming one or more embodiments of the present invention using the phrase consisting essentially of or consisting of is met.

[0040] The reference numbers recited in the below claims are solely for ease of examination of this patent application, and are exemplary, and are not intended in any way to limit the scope of the claims to the particular features having the corresponding reference numbers in the drawings.