Method of and apparatus for acquiring aerial imagery for precision farming
First Claim
1. A method of practicing precision farming wherein at least one agricultural operation is to be conducted with respect to a predetermined agricultural field, comprising the steps of:
- providing an air breathing, self-powered miniature aircraft having image acquisition apparatus carried thereaboard;
surveying the agricultural field by acquiring at least one image of then agricultural field from the image acquisition apparatus carried aboard the miniature aircraft;
analyzing the at least one image obtained in said step of surveying the agricultural field to determine at least one local condition of the agricultural field and at least one requirement of the agricultural field relative to an agricultural operation; and
conducting the agricultural operation with respect to the agricultural field in a manner corresponding to the at least one requirement of the agricultural field as determined in said step of analyzing the at least one image.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of practicing precision farming wherein a ground launched, air breathing, powered, unmanned miniature aircraft overflies a field being surveyed to acquire aerial imagery of the same. The flight path of the aircraft is controlled at least partially by automated control apparatus carried aboard the aircraft, and preferably includes radio signal inputs from the GPS. The flight path includes alternating turns assuring that as much of the field as possible be overflown in one flight. Where necessary, plural complementary flights are conducted. The aircraft is preferably controlled to land at a predetermined site which may be outside of the field being surveyed and which may be its own launch site. Preferably, a redundant navigation system utilizing altitude, air speed, and pitch and roll sensors supplements the GPS inputs. Acquired images may be multispectral, hyperspectral, ultraspectral, thermal, synthetic aperture radar, or laser radar, or any combination thereof. The imagery is analyzed after acquisition to determine localized needs. An agricultural operation such as for example application of water, seed, herbicide, pesticide, fungicide, or performing for example an operation such as pruning or harvesting, is then performed according to the need as determined by the analysis.
34 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of practicing precision farming wherein at least one agricultural operation is to be conducted with respect to a predetermined agricultural field, comprising the steps of:
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providing an air breathing, self-powered miniature aircraft having image acquisition apparatus carried thereaboard;
surveying the agricultural field by acquiring at least one image of then agricultural field from the image acquisition apparatus carried aboard the miniature aircraft;
analyzing the at least one image obtained in said step of surveying the agricultural field to determine at least one local condition of the agricultural field and at least one requirement of the agricultural field relative to an agricultural operation; and
conducting the agricultural operation with respect to the agricultural field in a manner corresponding to the at least one requirement of the agricultural field as determined in said step of analyzing the at least one image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification