Aerial chemical application and control method

• US 7,143,980 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2004
• Issued: 12/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adapco, LLC
• Original Assignee: Adapco, LLC
• Inventors: Reynolds, William H., Jones, E. Doug, Heller, Larry D.
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, TIEN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US10/900,543
• Publication Number:
  US 20050051669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 244/136, 244/30, 244/31, 239/171
• US Class Current: 244/136
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 21/00 Methods of fertilising , sowing or planting
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 7/0089 Regulating or controlling systems the delivery being related to the movement of a vehicle B05B9/06

Abstract

A chemical distribution control and guidance system operates for controlling the distribution of airborne product via an aircraft passing over a target. A weather station is positioned at various altitudes for use in determining an appropriate aircraft altitude for distributing the chemical to the target. A second weather station positioned near the target transmits weather data in real time to a central communications station and the aircraft for providing guidance in accurately, safely and effectively distributing chemicals onto the target.

Claims

1. A method for applying a chemical to a target from an aircraft, the method comprising:

providing first and second weather stations for collecting area weather data;

positioning the first weather station for providing altitude area weather data at an altitude environmentally coupled to the target upon which the chemical is to be applied;

positioning the second weather station for providing target area weather data therefrom;

controlling the aircraft having the chemical stored thereby for distributing the chemical to the target from an aircraft altitude;

receiving the altitude area and the target area weather data from the first and second weather stations; and

distributing the chemical from the aircraft based on a delivery pattern responsive to the altitude area and target area weather data.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising adjusting the altitude of the first weather station to the aircraft altitude.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the area weather data comprises at least one of altitude, wind direction, wind speed, temperature, and relative humidity.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

repositioning the first weather station from an initial altitude to alternate altitudes;

analyzing the area weather data received from the first and second weather stations throughout the repositioning of the first weather station; and

modifying the aircraft altitude to a desirable altitude for distributing the chemical based on the analyzing.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first weather station positioning comprises carrying the first weather station by an aerostat including a tethering thereof.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the aerostat comprises a balloon.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

tethering the aerostat from an initial altitude to a preselected altitude through intermediate altitudes therebetween;

analyzing the area weather data received from the first and second weather stations throughout the tethering; and

modifying the aircraft altitude to a preferred altitude for distributing the chemical based on the analyzing.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising anchoring the aerostat using a tether line secured at ground level, and wherein the tethering comprises varying the altitude of the aerostat by a reeling and unreeling of the tether line.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting area weather data received from the first and second weather stations between the first weather station, the second weather station and the aircraft.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second weather stations comprise at least one of a magnetometer configured as a directional compass, an anemometer for determining wind speed, a solid state temperature sensor, a solid state sensor for measuring relative humidity, a solid state aneroid pressure transducer for altitude encoding, an RE transmitter employing spread spectrum processing, a two-way RE transceiver, global positioning receiver, and an interfacing microprocessor.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the delivery pattern comprises a predicted delivery pattern.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second weather station is positioned at ground level.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the target is a ground target.

14. The method according claim 1, further comprising communicating the altitude area and the target area weather data to a central communications station.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising carrying the central communications station by at least one of the aircraft and a mobile ground unit.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing a tower for positioning the first weather station thereon.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the weather data receiving comprises receiving updated weather data at least once every second.

18. A method for applying a chemical to a target from an aircraft, the method comprising:

providing first and second weather stations for collecting area weather data;

positioning the first weather station for providing altitude area weather data at an altitude environmentally coupled to the target upon which the chemical is to be applied;

positioning the second weather station for providing target area weather data therefrom;

controlling the aircraft having the chemical stored thereby for distributing the chemical to the target from an aircraft altitude;

repositioning the first weather station from an initial altitude to alternate altitudes;

analyzing the area weather data received from the first and second weather stations throughout the repositioning of the first weather station;

modifying the aircraft altitude to a desirable altitude for distributing the chemical based on the analyzing; and

distributing the chemical from the aircraft based on a delivery pattern responsive to the altitude area and target area weather data.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the area weather data comprises at least one of altitude, wind direction, wind speed, temperature, and relative humidity.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the first weather station positioning comprises carrying the first weather station by an aerostat including a tethering thereof.

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein the first weather positioning comprises providing a tower for positioning the first weather station thereon.

22. The method according to claim 18, further comprising transmitting area weather data received from the first and second weather stations between the first weather station, the second weather station and the aircraft.

23. The method according to claim 18, wherein the first and second weather stations comprise at least one of a magnetometer configured as a directional compass, an anemometer for determining wind speed, a solid state temperature sensor, a solid state sensor for measuring relative humidity, a solid state aneroid pressure transducer for altitude encoding, an RE transmitter employing spread spectrum processing, a two-way RF transceiver, global positioning receiver, and an interfacing microprocessor.

24. The method according to claim 18, wherein the delivery pattern comprises a predicted delivery pattern.

25. The method according claim 18, further comprising communicating the altitude area and the target area weather data to a central communications station.

26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising carrying the central communications station by at least one of the aircraft and a mobile ground unit.

27. The method according to claim 25 wherein the weather data communicating comprises communicating updated weather data at least once every second.

28. A method for applying a chemical to a target from an aircraft, the method comprising:

positioning at least one weather station for providing altitude area weather data environmentally coupled to the target upon which the chemical is to be applied;

controlling the aircraft having the chemical stored thereby for distributing the chemical to the target from an aircraft altitude;

repositioning the at least one weather station from an initial altitude to alternate altitudes;

analyzing the area weather data received therefrom throughout the repositioning;

modifying the aircraft altitude to a desirable altitude for distributing the chemical based on the analyzing; and

distributing the chemical from the aircraft based on a delivery pattern responsive to the altitude area weather data.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the area weather data comprises at least one of altitude, wind direction, wind speed, temperature, and relative humidity.

30. The method according to claim 28, wherein the at least one weather station comprises at least one of a magnetometer configured as a directional compass, an anemometer for determining wind speed, a solid state temperature sensor, a solid state sensor for measuring relative humidity, a solid state aneroid pressure transducer for altitude encoding, an RF transmitter employing spread spectrum processing, a two-way RE transceiver, global positioning receiver, and an interfacing microprocessor.

31. The method according to claim 28, wherein the delivery pattern comprises a predicted delivery pattern.

32. The method according to claim 28, further comprising positioning a second weather station at the target for receiving target area weather data therefrom.

33. The method according to claim 28, wherein the target is a ground target.

34. The method according claim 28, further comprising communicating the altitude area weather data to a central communications station.

35. The method according to claim 34, further comprising carrying the central communications station by at least one of the aircraft and a mobile ground unit.

36. The method according to claim 28, further comprising providing a tower for positioning the at least one weather station thereon.

37. The method according to claim 28, further comprising receiving updated weather data at least once every second.