Aerial beneficial insect distribution vehicle

• US 9,346,546 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2015
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Beaugavin Markov
• Original Assignee: Michael Beaugavin Markov
• Inventors: Markov, Michael Beaugavin
• Primary Examiner(s): Reis, Ryan
• Application Number:
  US14/597,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20150122950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 19/008 Accessories or implements for use in connection with applying particulate materials to surfaces; not provided elsewhere in B05C19/00
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 19/04 the particulate material being projected, poured or allowed to flow onto the surface of the work B05C19/02 takes precedence; involving spraying or electrostatic projection B05B B05C19/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/02 Dropping, ejecting, or releasing articles jettisonable fuel reservoirs B64D37/12
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/16 Dropping or releasing powdered, liquid, or gaseous matter, e.g. for fire-fighting jettisoning fuel B64D37/26

Abstract

A remotely-piloted aircraft for distributing beneficial insects on a target area is provided. The aircraft includes an enclosure, including a top lid, one or more internal compartments, a door for each of the one or more internal compartments, and an actuator to open and close each of the doors. The aircraft also includes a circuit to control the actuators, a wireless receiver, coupled to the circuit, to receive commands to open and close the doors, and one or more power sources to power the actuators and the wireless receiver. An operator controls the aircraft and the circuit with at least one of a wireless transmitter and an uploaded program in the circuit. When the wireless receiver receives a command to open a door, the circuit controls an actuator corresponding to the door. The actuator opens the door, and the beneficial insects are distributed from internal compartments.

Claims

1. A remotely-piloted aircraft for distributing beneficial insects to a target area, comprising:

an enclosure, mounted externally to the remotely-piloted aircraft, comprising;

a top lid covering the top of the enclosure;

a plurality of-internal compartments to store the beneficial insects, each comprising;

a side hole through which the beneficial insects are introduced to each of the plurality of internal compartments;

a door for each of the plurality of internal compartments; and

an actuator to open and close each of the doors;

a circuit to control the actuators;

a wireless receiver, coupled to the circuit, to receive commands to open and close the doors; and

one or more power sources to power the actuators and the wireless receiver;

wherein an operator controls the aircraft and the circuit with at least one of a wireless transmitter and an uploaded program in the circuit, wherein when the wireless receiver receives a command to open a door, the circuit controls an actuator corresponding to the door, wherein the actuator opens the door, wherein the beneficial insects are distributed from each of the plurality of internal compartments when the corresponding door is open.

2. The remotely piloted aircraft of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is positioned below the center of mass of the remotely piloted aircraft, wherein each of the doors for each of the plurality of internal compartments is opened and closed independent of the other doors.

3. The remotely piloted aircraft of claim 1, wherein each side hole may be temporarily plugged independent of the other side holes.

4. The remotely piloted aircraft of claim 1, wherein the enclosure further comprises a resilient layer between the top lid and the plurality of internal compartments, wherein the resilient layer keeps the beneficial insects within the enclosure.