Method and apparatus for target plant foliage sensing and mapping and related materials application control
US4823268A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 23, 1987 |
| Grant date | Apr 18, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 23, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB05B12/124
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An electronic orchard tree measuring system based on ultrasonic range transducers may be used to determine the amount and vertical distribution of sensed load centroids in vertical sectors of orchard trees. The ultrasonic transducers may be operated independently of any processor or memory which receives their distance data outputs. Displacement sensing of the apparatus relative a row of target trees may instead be used to select ultrasonic distance data at predetermined incremental distances of travel relative the trees being sensed. Thus, the most recent value of sensed data is always available as input to the processor or memory, without requiring any timing circuitry between such sensing and control circuits. The detection data may be stored in memory for subsequent processing to create a map of foliar volumes of the sensed target trees. Alternatively, the spatial characteristics of the sensed amount and vertical distribution of load centroids for a given vertical segment of target trees may be further compared spatially with determined application patterns of controllable spray nozzles to configure subsequent activation of such nozzles for optimal material application to the g…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.