US 12,347,105 B2 · Unmanned aerial vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for agricultural field management. The UAV comprises a control and processing unit (20) and a camera (30). The control and processing unit is configured to control the UAV to fly to a location inside the canopy of a crop and below the vertical height of the crop and/or between a row of a plurality of crops and below the vertical height of the plurality of crop. The control and processing unit is configured to control the camera to acquire at least one image relating to the crop at the location inside the canopy of the crop and below the vertical height of the crop and/or between a row of a plurality of crops and below the vertical height of the plurality of crops. The control and processing unit is configured to analyse the at least one image to determine at least one disease, at least one pest and/or at least one nutritional deficiency.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for agricultural field management, comprising:

a control and processing unit;
and
a camera mounted on an extendable and retractable mount of the UAV;
wherein, the control and processing unit is configured to control the UAV to fly to a location inside a canopy of a crop and below a vertical height of the crop and/or between rows of a plurality of crops and below a vertical height of the plurality of crops;
wherein, the control and processing unit is configured to control the camera to acquire at least one image relating to the crop at the location inside the canopy of the crop and below the vertical height of the crop and/or between the rows of the plurality of crops and below the vertical height of the plurality of crops;
wherein, the control and processing unit is configured to analyze the at least one image to determine at least one disease, at least one pest and/or at least one nutritional deficiency;
wherein the mount is configured to vary a distance between the camera and a body of the UAV;
and
wherein the mount is further configured to move the camera relative to the crop to a position to enable the camera to acquire at least one image of at least one leaf of the crop on an abaxial side of the at least one leaf relative to the position of the camera.

6 more elements

A base station for a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), wherein the base station comprises:

an UAV parking unit comprising at least one UAV;
a base station control and processing unit;
at least one base station transceiver;
wherein the at least one UAV comprises:
a control and processing unit;
a camera mounted on an extendable and retractable mount of the at least one UAV;
wherein the mount is configured to:
(i) vary a distance between the camera and a body of the UAV, and (ii) move the camera relative to the crop to a position to enable the camera to acquire at least one image of at least one leaf of the crop on an abaxial side of the at least one leaf relative to the position of the camera;
and
a transceiver;
wherein the UAV parking unit is configured to carry a plurality of UAVs;
wherein, the control and processing unit is configured to control the UAV to fly from the base station to a location within a canopy of a crop and below a vertical height of the crop and/or between rows of a plurality of crops and below a vertical height of the plurality of crops;
wherein, the control and processing unit is configured to control the camera to acquire at least one image relating to the crop at the location within the canopy of the crop and below the vertical height of the crop and/or between the rows of the plurality of crops and below the vertical height of the plurality of crops;
wherein the control and processing unit is configured to utilize the transceiver to transmit information about the at least one image relating to the crop to the base station;
wherein the base station control and processing unit is configured to utilize the base station transceiver to receive the information about the at least one image relating to the crop from the at least one UAV;
wherein the base station control and processing unit is configured to analyze the at least one image received from the at least one UAV to determine at least one disease, at least one pest and/or at least one nutritional deficiency.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Unmanned aerial vehicle

Life of this patent

Unmanned aerial vehicle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16