Method and System for Automated Plant Watering

• US 20150181819A1
• Filed: 12/31/2013
• Published: 07/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kaya Celebi, Samel Celebi
• Original Assignee: Kaya Celebi, Samel Celebi
• Inventors: Celebi, Samel, Celebi, Kaya
• Application Number:
  US14/144,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20150181819A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 27/001 with intermittent watering means
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• 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 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/40 for agriculture or forestry operations
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/34 In-flight charging photovoltaics B64U50/31

Abstract

A system for automatic watering of a plurality of plants using a programmable airborne vehicle (AV). The AV is capable of locating the plants to be watered via various wireless, sonar and pattern-recognition-based means. The AV is programmed with scheduling information such as the amount of water and the frequency of watering for each plant. The optional base unit acts as a refilling and recharging station for the AV.

Claims

1. An automated airborne plant watering system, relating to dispersing at least one aqueous liquid over a plant at scheduled intervals, comprising:

a. a programmable airborne vehicle (AV) for delivering liquid to a plant, tree or flower, comprising;

i. at least one tank capable of storing liquids comprising;

an opening for liquid delivery in the form of a nozzle, pipe or shower head, and

a capped opening for allowing liquid filling into said tank.

ii. at least one propeller capable of providing lift and drag power to said AV

iii. at least one motor unit delivering power to said propellers

iv. a processor

v. a memory coupled to said processor for storing data

vi. at least one rechargeable battery unit delivering electrical power to said motor and said processor and said memory unit

b. at least one plant to be watered (PTW) comprising;

i. at least one plant standing outside in soil, or

ii. at least one plant standing in a pot or a container

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said AV further comprising

a. at least one leg made from conductive material

b. wherein said legs providing standing support for said AV

c. wherein said legs are used as point of contacts during recharging of said batteries

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said AV further comprising a wireless transceiver apparatus capable of sending and receiving information to and from other transceivers alike.

4. The invention of claim 1 further comprising:

a. a balloon attached to AV body

b. wherein said balloon filled with a buoyant gas.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said AV further comprising:

a. a watering scheduling information (WSI) comprising;

i. a list of plants to be watered (PTW)

ii. a list of location of said plants

iii. a list of amount of water to be given to each said plant a list of frequency of watering to be applied to each said plant, or alternatively a list of watering times or dates for each said plant

b. wherein said WSI is stored in said AV memory

6. The invention of claim 5 further comprising:

a. a user entering said WSI into a computer or a smartphone or a personal digital assistant memory via keyboard, or,

b. a user entering said WSI into a computer or a smartphone or a personal digital assistant memory using voice commands.

c. wherein said computer, smartphone or personal digital assistant transferring said WSI information from said memory to said AV via wireless communication

d. wherein said AV storing received WSI information into said AV memory.

7. The invention of claim 1 wherein said AV further comprising:

a. at least one proximity sensor (PS) apparatus attached to the body of said AV,

b. wherein said PS is capable of generating electrical alert signals when objects are nearby,

c. wherein said PS is electrically connected to said processor,

d. wherein said processor changing said AV flight direction based on received PS signals to avoid collision with nearby objects.

8. The invention of claim 1 further comprising:

a. a base unit (BU) serving as a liquid refilling station for said AV.

b. wherein said BU serving as a recharging station for said battery.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said BU further comprising:

a. a processor

b. a memory coupled to said processor for storing data

c. a wireless transceiver apparatus capable of sending and receiving information to other transceivers alike.

10. The invention of claim 8 further comprising:

a. a base unit label (BUL) with a distinctive pattern imprinted

a. wherein said BUL is attached to said BU surface.

b. wherein said BUL pattern is stored in said AV'"'"'s said memory

c. wherein said AV processor is able to identify said BUL by applying pattern recognition algorithms to images captured by said image sensor (IS).

11. The invention of claim 1 further comprising:

a. at least one plant label (PL) with a distinctive pattern for purposes of plant identification

b. wherein each said PL is attached to each said plant'"'"'s body, or each said pot or each said container

c. wherein each said PL pattern is stored in said AV'"'"'s said memory

d. wherein said AV processor is able to identify said PL by applying pattern recognition algorithms to images captured by said image sensor (IS).

12. The invention of claim 1 wherein said AV further comprising:

a. plurality of images of plant labels (PL) are stored in said AV memory

b. an image of base unit label (BUL) is stored in said AV memory

c. at least one image sensor (IS) attached to said AVI is capable of capturing images,

d. wherein said captured images transferred to said processor,

e. wherein pattern recognition is applied to said images by said processor,

f. wherein said processor determines if said captured images match patterns stored in said memory

13. The invention of claim 8 further comprising:

a. a radio frequency ID (RFID) tag

b. wherein said RFID tag is attached to said BU body

c. wherein said RFID tag transmitting signals

d. wherein said AV is capable of finding said RFID location by processing said RFID signals

14. The invention of claim 8 wherein said BU further comprising:

a. a watering scheduling information (WSI) comprising;

i. a list of plants to be watered (PTW)

ii. a list of location of said plants

iii. a list of amount of water to be given to each said plant

iv. a list of frequency of watering to be applied to each said plant, or

v. a list of watering times or dates each said plant

b. wherein said WSI is stored in said BU memory

15. The invention of claim 14 wherein said BU further comprising a keyboard for user to enter said WSI.

16. The invention of claim 14 wherein said BU further comprising:

a. a microphone converting user'"'"'s verbal said WSI entries into electrical signals

b. wherein said processor is capable of decoding said microphone'"'"'s signals through speech recognition and storing said WSI in said memory

17. The invention of claim 14 comprising:

a. said BU processor reading said WSI from said BU memory and transmitting its content to said AV using said wireless transceiver.

b. said AVI processor copying received WSI information into said AV memory

18. The invention of claim 5 wherein said AV further comprising:

a. a microphone converting user'"'"'s verbal said WSI entries into electrical signals

b. wherein said processor is capable of decoding said microphone'"'"'s signals through speech recognition and storing said WSI in said memory

19. The invention of claim 1 further comprising:

a. at least one radio frequency ID (RFID) tag

b. wherein each said RFID tag placed on or near each said plant

c. wherein each said RFID tag transmits signals

d. wherein said AV is capable of finding each said plant location by processing each said RFID signal

20. The invention of claim 1 further comprising:

a. a funnel with a narrow pipe shaped stem and wide open mouth to allow spill-free liquid delivery,

b. wherein said funnel is inserted into the soil or supporting ground material next to said plant to be watered.

21. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

a. said AV recharging its said batteries while parked on said BU

b. said AV refilling its said tank while parked on said BU

22. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

a. said processor reading WSI stored in said memory

b. using WSI said processor determining next plant to be watered (PTW)

c. using WSI said processor determining watering time for said PTW

d. using WSI said processor determining the amount of water to be delivered to said PTW

e. using WSI said processor determining location of said PTW

f. said AV taking off at said watering time and flying towards said PTW

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

a. said AV finding said PTW location with GPS assistance, or

b. said AV finding said PTW location by listening to signals emitted from said RFID placed next to said PTW, or

c. said AV determining said PTW location by listening to plurality of beacon signals placed at predetermined locations

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

a. said processor recognizing said plant label placed on or next to said PTW using pattern recognition.

25. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

a. said AV landing next to said PTW, or

b. said AV hovering over PTW,

c. said AV dripping or spraying liquid onto said soil or said funnel.

d. if said AV still has energy left in its batteries and liquid left in its said tank flying towards a next scheduled PTW, otherwise said AV flying back to said BU for refilling said tank and recharging said batteries.