Aerial insect release apparatus

• US 9,505,496 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2014
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• 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:
  US14/517,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20150041593A1
• Time in Patent Office: 772 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/08 Arrangements for simultaneously releasing several animals
• 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 1/08 the articles being load-carrying devices
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/12 Releasing
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/16 with five or more distinct rotor axes, e.g. octocopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/17 Helicopters flying platforms B64U10/13
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons

Abstract

An apparatus to aerially dispense payload containers from an aircraft is provided. The apparatus includes an outer portion, including an opening to allow a payload container to leave the apparatus when the payload container is in alignment with the opening. The apparatus also includes an inner portion, configured to rotate within the outer portion. The inner portion has one or more cutouts that retain the payload container. The apparatus further includes an actuator, coupled to the inner portion, and a processor circuit. The processor circuit commands the actuator to rotate the inner portion to cause the payload container to align with the opening.

Claims

1. An apparatus to aerially dispense payload containers from an aircraft, comprising:

an outer portion, comprising a permanent opening to allow only a single payload container to leave the apparatus when the single payload container is in alignment with the opening;

an inner portion, configured to rotate within the outer portion, comprising;

a payload container stop, separate from the payload containers, configured to be permanently retained by the inner portion and move lengthwise along the inner portion in order to conform to a length of the payload containers;

an actuator, coupled to the inner portion; and

a processor circuit, wherein the processor circuit commands the actuator to rotate the inner portion to cause the payload container to align with the opening.

2. The apparatus to aerially dispense payload containers of claim 1, wherein the payload containers are constructed from a biodegradable material, wherein the payload containers store beneficial insects comprising at least one of flying insects, eggs, and larvae.

3. The apparatus to aerially dispense payload containers of claim 2, wherein one or more payload containers are loaded into the apparatus when the aircraft is not airborne, wherein when the one or more payload containers are loaded into the apparatus:

a first end of the one or more payload containers is closed and an opposite second end is open; and

the second end is closed off by a surface of the apparatus,

wherein the beneficial insects are retained within the one or more payload container when the second end is closed off.

4. The apparatus to aerially dispense payload containers of claim 1, wherein the opening faces downward when the aircraft is airborne, wherein gravity causes a payload container to fall from the apparatus.

5. The apparatus to aerially dispense payload containers of claim 1, the inner portion further comprising:

a plurality of cutouts configured to retain payload containers when not in alignment with the opening,

wherein the actuator is a servo, wherein the control circuit controls the servo to rotate the inner portion a predetermined angle such that a next cutout of the plurality of cutouts is in alignment with the opening.

6. The apparatus to aerially dispense payload containers of claim 1, wherein after the payload containers are loaded into the apparatus and before the aircraft is airborne, the inner portion is oriented such that no payload containers are in alignment with the opening.

7. The apparatus to aerially dispense payload containers of claim 1, wherein the aircraft is a remotely-piloted aircraft, wherein a ground based operator wirelessly controls the aircraft and the processor circuit with at least one of a wireless transmitter and a stored program on the aircraft.

8. A method for aerially dispensing payload containers to a target area from an aircraft comprising a distribution apparatus, the method comprising:

sending, by a processor circuit, a command to an actuator to rotate an inner portion of the distribution apparatus to aerially dispense a single payload container from the aircraft;

rotating, by the actuator in response to the command, an inner portion relative to an outer portion of an apparatus to bring a cutout of the inner portion in alignment with a permanent opening in the outer portion, wherein the distribution apparatus comprises the outer portion, the inner portion, and the actuator; and

dispensing, by the distribution apparatus, the payload container to the target area when the payload container is in alignment with the opening,

wherein the inner portion is configured to rotate within the outer portion, wherein the inner portion comprises a payload container stop, separate from the payload containers, configured to be permanently retained by the inner portion and move lengthwise along the inner portion in order to conform to a length of the payload containers and a cutout that captures the payload container between the inner portion and the outer portion when the payload container is not in alignment with the opening.

9. The method for aerially dispensing payload containers of claim 8, wherein the payload containers are constructed from a biodegradable material, wherein the payload containers store beneficial insects comprising at least one of flying insects, eggs, and larvae.

10. The method for aerially dispensing payload containers of claim 9, wherein the method further comprising:

loading, by a human operator, one or more payload containers into the distribution apparatus when the aircraft is not airborne, wherein when loaded into the apparatus;

a first end of the payload containers is closed and an opposite second end is open;

the second end makes contact with a surface of the distribution apparatus; and

wherein the beneficial insects are prevented from leaving the payload container when the second end is in contact with the surface, wherein the inner portion comprises a plurality of cutouts.

11. The method for aerially dispensing payload containers of claim 10, wherein a spring in each cutout of the plurality of cutouts provides ejection force against payload containers, wherein the method further comprising:

ejecting, by the spring, a payload container when the payload container is in alignment with the opening.

12. The method for aerially dispensing payload containers of claim 10, wherein the actuator is a servo, wherein the method further comprising:

controlling, by the processor circuit, the servo to rotate the inner portion a predetermined amount such that a next cutout is in alignment with the opening.

13. The method for aerially dispensing payload containers of claim 8, wherein after the payload containers are loaded into the distribution apparatus and before the aircraft is airborne, the method further comprising:

orienting the inner portion such that no payload containers are in alignment with the opening.

14. The method for aerially dispensing payload containers of claim 8, wherein the aircraft is a remotely-piloted aircraft, wherein after a last payload container is dropped from the aircraft, the method further comprising:

sending, by the processor circuit, a command to the actuator to rotate the inner portion such that no cutouts are in alignment with the opening.

15. A remotely-piloted aircraft for distributing beneficial insects to a target area, comprising a distribution apparatus, the distribution apparatus comprising:

an outer portion, comprising;

a permanent opening to allow a single payload container to leave the apparatus when the single payload container is in alignment with the opening; and

a removable cap;

an inner portion, configured to rotate within the outer portion, comprising;

a plurality of cutouts on the periphery of the inner portion that the payload containers fit within; and

a payload container stop, separate from the payload containers, configured to be permanently retained by the inner portion and move lengthwise along the inner portion in order to conform to a length of the payload containers;

an actuator, statically coupled to the outer portion and movably coupled to the inner portion;

a processor circuit, wherein the processor circuit commands the actuator to rotate the inner portion to cause a cutout to align with the opening;

a wireless receiver, coupled to the processor circuit, to receive commands to control the actuator; and

one or more power sources to provide power to the processor circuit, the actuator, and the wireless receiver;

wherein an operator controls the remotely-piloted aircraft and the processor circuit with at least one of a wireless transmitter and a stored program in the processor circuit, wherein when the wireless receiver receives a command to control the actuator, the processor circuit controls the actuator to rotate the inner portion such that a next cutout is in alignment with the opening, wherein the beneficial insects are distributed to the target area after a payload container falls from the distribution apparatus.

16. The remotely piloted aircraft of claim 15, wherein one or more payload containers are loaded into the distribution apparatus when the aircraft is not airborne, wherein when loaded into the apparatus:

a first end of the payload containers is closed and an opposite second end is open; and

the second end makes contact with a surface of the distribution apparatus,

wherein the beneficial insects are prevented from leaving the payload container when the second end is in contact with the surface.

17. The remotely piloted aircraft of claim 15, wherein the actuator rotates the inner portion from a current position to a next position corresponding to a next cutout of the plurality of cutouts is in alignment with the opening.

18. The remotely piloted aircraft of claim 17, wherein the processor circuit comprises:

a processor; and

a memory, coupled to the processor, the memory comprising;

computer instructions for interpreting commands from the wireless receiver, and in response controlling the actuator,

wherein the computer instructions store at least a first and a second predetermined time, wherein the first predetermined time corresponds to the amount of time required to rotate the inner portion from a first position to a second position corresponding to a next payload container in alignment with the opening, wherein the second predetermined time corresponds to the amount of time required to rotate the inner portion from a current second position corresponding to a current payload container in alignment with the opening to a next second position corresponding to a next payload container in alignment with the opening.

19. The remotely piloted aircraft of claim 15, wherein the inner portion comprises:

first and second rotating ends to capture the payload containers, wherein each of the first and second rotating ends has one or more cutouts that capture the payload containers; and

at least one spar member coupled to the first and second rotating ends and causing the inner portion to rotate as a unit.

20. The remotely piloted aircraft of claim 15, wherein the inner portion comprises:

a payload container axle, wherein the payload container axle comprises a plurality of cutouts on the periphery for retaining a plurality of payload containers.