Automated Data-Based Irrigation System & Method
OwnerDarren Rajinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for obtaining real-time data regarding the condition of a crop and planning and executing an irrigation cycle in response to the data. The invention uses an unmanned aerial vehicle to survey the conditions within an irrigated area. The unmanned aerial vehicle is operated from a base station mounted on the boom assembly of a pivot irrigation system. The inventive system determines a position for the base station and uses that position to land the UAV.
Claims20
A method for operating a UAV from a center pivot irrigation system including a central pivot structure and a pivoting boom assembly pivotally connected to said central pivot structure, comprising:
- (a) providing a UAV base station mounted on said pivoting boom assembly, said UAV base station moving with said pivoting boom assembly;
- (b) providing said UAV, with said UAV being configured to operate from said UAV base station;
- (c) calculating a receiving position for said UAV base station;
- and
- (d) maneuvering said UAV to a point above said receiving position in preparation for landing said UAV on said UAV base station.
A method for operating a UAV from a center pivot irrigation system including a central pivot structure and a pivoting boom assembly pivotally connected to said central pivot structure, comprising:
- (a) providing a UAV base station mounted on said pivoting boom assembly, said UAV base station moving with said pivoting boom assembly;
- (b) providing said UAV, with said UAV being configured to take off from said UAV base station and to land on said UAV base station;
- (c) determining a receiving position for said UAV base station;
- and
- (d) maneuvering said UAV to a point above said receiving position in preparation for landing said UAV on said UAV base station.
A method for operating a UAV from a center pivot irrigation system including a central pivot structure and a pivoting boom assembly pivotally connected to said central pivot structure, comprising:
- (a) providing a UAV base station mounted on said pivoting boom assembly in a fixed position relative to said pivoting boom assembly;
- (b) providing said UAV, with said UAV being configured to take off from said UAV base station and to land on said UAV base station;
- (c) determining a receiving position for said UAV base station;
- and
- (d) maneuvering said UAV to a point above said receiving position in preparation for landing said UAV on said UAV base station.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.