Fertilizer/chemical dispensers for lawn care having intelligent dispensing systems (smart dispenser logic) and associated method of use

A fertilizer/chemical dispenser, comprising:

• a frame sub-assembly;
• a first reservoir for containing chemical solids, wherein the first reservoir is associated with the frame sub-assembly;
• a first dispenser for dispensing chemical solids;
• a second reservoir for containing chemical liquids, wherein the second reservoir is associated with the frame sub-assembly;
• a second dispenser for dispensing chemical liquids;
• at least one ground-engaging drive wheel;
• an engine, wherein the engine is associated with the frame sub-assembly;
• and
• a chemical dispenser control logic system comprising an image sensor operably connected to a controller, wherein the image sensor and controller are configured to selectively gather, obtain, monitor, store, and record data associated with a lawn treatment area prior to application of fertilizer/chemical, and wherein the controller communicatively couples the fertilizer/chemical dispenser with a management server over a network and transmits operational data to the management server for analysis, and wherein the management server monitors nozzle engagement time relative to total operational time and transmits a threshold-violation alert to an owner of the fertilizer/chemical dispenser upon determining that the nozzle engagement time fails to satisfy a predetermined operational threshold.

A fertilizer/chemical dispenser system, consisting of:

• a self-propelled fertilizer/chemical dispenser having a frame sub-assembly, a first reservoir for chemical solids, a first dispenser for dispensing chemical solids, a second reservoir for chemical liquids, a second dispenser for dispensing chemical liquids, at least one ground-engaging drive wheel, an engine, and a controller;
• a remote management server communicatively coupled to the controller of the fertilizer/chemical dispenser over a network;
• and
• wherein the controller transmits operational data comprising nozzle engagement time and total operational time to the management server, and wherein the management server transmits a threshold-violation alert to an owner of the fertilizer/chemical dispenser upon determining that the nozzle engagement time relative to the total operational time fails to satisfy a predetermined operational threshold.