FLYING APPARATUS FOR AERIAL AGRICULTURAL APPLICATION

• US 20130068892A1
• Filed: 06/03/2011
• Published: 03/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Universiti Malaysia Perlis
• Original Assignee: Universiti Malaysia Perlis
• Inventors: Bin Desa, Hazry, Bin Muhamad Dali, Muhamad Firdaus, Bin Dzulkifli, Mohd Zahiruddin, Bin Ahmam, Zul Azfar
• Application Number:
  US13/701,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20130068892A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/190
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/18 by spraying, e.g. insecticides spraying apparatus per se B05B
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/35 for science, e.g. meteorology
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/29 Constructional aspects of rotors or rotor supports; Arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 60/70 Movable wings, rotor supports or shrouds acting as ground-engaging elements

Abstract

A remotely controlled flying apparatus (200) utilized for crop-spraying and crop monitoring purposes is disclosed. The present indention comprises a microcontroller (110) electronically coupled to an inertia measuring means (120). A controller (140) is connected to a computer (130) to allow a user to control movements of the flying apparatus (200). The computer (130) interprets control motions of the controller (140) and translates the motions to control signals. Upon translation, control signals are sent to the microcontroller (110) wirelessly and the control signals are modulated by a pulse modulation generator (150) before they are sent to a plurality of speed controllers (160a-160d) which are coupled to a plurality of motors (170a-! 70d). The controller (140) allows the user to control the motions of the flying apparatus remote! }, by changing respective rotational speeds of the plurality of motors (170a-170d). The controller (140) also allows the user to wirelessly control a pump (180) or a camera (190) or both through the computer (130) for spraying a pesticide or fertilizer fluid—when necessary or for crop monitoring purposes.

Claims

1. A flying apparatus for aerial agricultural application, comprising;

a control system;

a plurality of arms that extend from a connector located at a middle section of the flying apparatus wherein the plurality of arms bend downwardly to form a plurality of supporting legs;

a plurality of motors each coupled to a propeller, each motor being mounted along one of the arms; and

a tank mountable on the connector with a plurality of sprayers at its periphery for releasing dispersed droplets of a fluid contained within the tank;

wherein the control system receives wireless control signals to control the motion of the flying apparatus by changing the speeds of the motors and also to control the release of dispersed droplets of the fluid.

2. The flying apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one camera mountable to the connector.

3. The flying apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a supporting member that connects the plurality of legs.

4. The flying apparatus (200) according to claim 2, wherein the camera is incorporated with a thermal detection feature to detect a level of soil toxicity.

5. The flying apparatus (200) according to claim 1, further comprising a pulse modulation generator which modulates the control signals and sends the modulated signals to a plurality of speed controllers to change the speed of the plurality of motors.

6. The flying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control system comprises a microcontroller electronically coupled to an inertia measuring system wherein the microcontroller balances the flying apparatus based on tilt data measured by the inertia measuring system.

7. The flying apparatus (200) according to claim 5, wherein the flying apparatus is incorporated with a global positioning system (GPS) to enable real time navigation of the flying apparatus.

8. The flying apparatus (200) according to claim 1, wherein the control signals are generated by a computer that interprets corresponding control motions of a controller and translates the control motions to control signals.

9. The flying apparatus (200) according to claim 1, wherein the control signals are radio control (RC) signals.

10. The flying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of arms, the plurality of legs and the connector are fabricated from polymeric materials.