Abstract: An aerial vehicle includes a liquid chemical tank, at least one spray unit, at least one actuator, a plurality of sensors, and a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to determine an air movement direction relative to a projection of the fore-aft axis onto the ground and determine an air movement speed relative to the ground, the determination comprising utilization of the speed of the aerial vehicle, the air movement direction relative to the aerial vehicle with respect to the fore-aft axis of the aerial vehicle and the air movement speed relative to the aerial vehicle. The processing unit is configured to control at least one flying operation of the aerial vehicle and/or control the at least one actuator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method of spraying a field with a vehicle. The method comprises: moving a vehicle over a plant within a field and spraying the plant with a liquid spray. The liquid spray comprises at least one agrochemical active ingredient and at least one adjuvant. The at least one adjuvant is selected from the group comprising mono-and diesters of sulfosuccinate metal salts with branched or linear alcohols comprising 1-10 carbon atoms, organosilicone ethoxylates, ethoxylated diacetylene-diols with 1 to 6 EO and alcohol ethoxylates. The liquid spray is sprayed at a liquid spray rate such that the volume of liquid spray to be sprayed per area is less than 60 litres per hectare.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method (10) to control weeds comprising the steps of: a) acquiring geopositional information of planted crop seeds on an agricultural field and generating a crop seed map, b) acquiring soil elevation data and the corresponding geopositional information of the soil elevation on the agricultural field where the crop seeds have been planted or are being planted at at least two different time points and generating soil surface profile maps of the agricultural field, the soil surface profile maps showing the soil surface profiles at the at least two different time points, c) comparing the soil surface profile maps and the crop seed map to identify differences in the soil elevation profile that are not associated with seed growth of the planted seeds on the agricultural field, d) generating a weed control agent spray map on the basis of the differences in the identified soil elevations on the agricultural field that are not associated with seed growth of the planted crop seeds on

Abstract: The present invention relates to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for agricultural weed management. The UAV comprises a control and processing unit (20), and a camera (30). The control and processing unit is configured to control the UAV to fly to a location inside the canopy of a crop and below the vertical height of the crop and/or between a row of a plurality of crops and below the vertical height of the plurality of crops. The control and processing unit is configured to control the camera to acquire at least one image relating to the ground at the location inside the canopy of a crop and below the vertical height of the crop and/or between a row of a plurality of crops and below the vertical height of the plurality of crops. The control and processing unit is configured to analyse the at least one image to determine the presence of at least one weed and its location on the ground.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spray unit comprising an axle (20), a disc (30), a disc shape modifying assembly (40) and a liquid applicator (50). The disc is configured to spin about the axle centred on the centre of the disc. The liquid applicator is configured to apply liquid to a surface of the disc. The disc shape modifying assembly is configured to modify the trajectory of the liquid droplets that leave the spray unit by way of varying the diameter of the disc.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spray unit (10) with an axle (20), an atomising disc (30), a spray direction modifying assembly (40), and a liquid applicator (50). The atomising disc is configured to spin about the axle centred on the centre of the disc. The liquid applicator is configured to apply liquid to a surface of the atomising disc. The spray direction modifying assembly is in proximity to the atomising disc. The spray direction modifying assembly comprises at least one air channel (41). The at least one air channel is configured to provide air in proximity to the atomising disc to modify the subsequent trajectory of the liquid droplets that leave the outer edge of the atomising disc.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spray unit comprising an axle (10), a disc (20), a liquid applicator (40) and a spray direction assembly (50). The disc is configured to spin about the axle centred on the centre of the disc. The liquid applicator is configured to apply liquid to a surface of the disc. The spray direction assembly partially surrounds the disc. The inner surface of the spray direction assembly is configured to modify the trajectory of all liquid that leaves the outer edge of the disc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for agricultural field management. The UAV comprises a control and processing unit (20) and a camera (30). The control and processing unit is configured to control the UAV to fly to a location inside the canopy of a crop and below the vertical height of the crop and/or between a row of a plurality of crops and below the vertical height of the plurality of crop. The control and processing unit is configured to control the camera to acquire at least one image relating to the crop at the location inside the canopy of the crop and below the vertical height of the crop and/or between a row of a plurality of crops and below the vertical height of the plurality of crops. The control and processing unit is configured to analyse the at least one image to determine at least one disease, at least one pest and/or at least one nutritional deficiency.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aerial vehicle (10). aerial vehicle comprises a liquid chemical tank (20), at least one liquid spray unit (30), at least one actuator (40), a plurality of sensors (50), and a processing unit (60). The liquid chemical tank is configured to hold a liquid chemical. The at least one liquid spray unit is configured to spray the liquid chemical. The at least one actuator is configured to operate the at least one liquid spray unit. At least one sensor (51) of the plurality of sensors is configured to measure a speed of the aerial vehicle relative to the ground. At least one sensor (52) of the plurality of sensors is a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor configured to measure the direction and distance of airborne particles relative to the aerial vehicle with respect to a fore-aft axis of the aerial vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method of spraying a field with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The method comprises: flying an UAV over a crop within a field and spraying the crop with a liquid spray, wherein the UAV comprises a wing extending in directions perpendicular to a fore-aft axis of the UAV, wherein the wing has a span extending from one side of the fore-aft axis to the other side of the fore-aft axis, and wherein spraying the crop comprises spraying substantially all of the crop at a height of the wing above the crop that is less a length of the span of the wing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to spray application device(s) for application of an active ingredient(s) to agricultural crops, to vehicle(s) comprising spray application device(s), to method(s) of spray application by the spray application device(s), to computer program element(s) for controlling the spray application device(s), and for computer program element(s) for controlling vehicle(s) comprising spray application device(s).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a disc (10) for a spinning disc liquid atomizer. A surface (20) of the disc comprises a plurality of concentric rings (30) having different radii centred on the centre of the disc. A first concentric ring (40) of an adjacent pair of concentric rings has a surface configured to exhibit a first level of adhesion to the liquid. A second concentric ring (50) of the adjacent pair of concentric rings has a surface configured to exhibit a second level of adhesion to the liquid, and wherein the first level of adhesion is less than the second level of adhesion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to unmanned aerial vehicle for application of an active ingredient to agricultural crops. It is described to hold (310) a liquid comprising the active ingredient in a liquid reservoir housed within or attached to a body of the unmanned aerial vehicle. A liquid application unit is attached to the body of the unmanned aerial vehicle, and the liquid application unit is in fluid communication with the liquid reservoir. The liquid application unit receives (320) at least one input from a processing unit. The at least one input is useable to activate the liquid application unit. The unmanned aerial vehicle lands (330) within an environment to apply the liquid to at least one plant. The liquid application unit is activated (340) at a location determined by the processing unit based on image analysis of at least one image of the environment acquired by a camera.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle for application of an active ingredient to agricultural crops is configured to hold: a liquid comprising the active ingredient in at least one liquid reservoir housed within or attached to the unmanned aerial vehicle. At least one liquid application unit is housed within or attached to the unmanned aerial vehicle and in fluid communication with the at least one liquid reservoir. The housing of at least one sensor unit which is configured to determine sense information comprising sensing a functioning of one or more of: the at least one liquid reservoir, the at least one liquid application unit, the at least one operating unit. A processing unit determines an instruction to the unmanned aerial vehicle to dock with a base station and get a service from the base station. This determination step comprises utilization of sense information.

Abstract: An aerial vehicle includes a liquid chemical tank, at least one spray unit, at least one actuator, a plurality of sensors, and a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to determine an air movement direction relative to a projection of the fore-aft axis onto the ground and determine an air movement speed relative to the ground, the determination comprising utilization of the speed of the aerial vehicle, the air movement direction relative to the aerial vehicle with respect to the fore-aft axis of the aerial vehicle and the air movement speed relative to the aerial vehicle. The processing unit is configured to control at least one flying operation of the aerial vehicle and/or control the at least one actuator.

Abstract: An aerial vehicle includes a liquid chemical tank, at least one spray unit, a plurality of sensors, a processing unit, and an output unit. The processing unit is configured to generate a spray record for an environment within which the aerial vehicle is operating, the spray record comprising: information over a time period of at least one spray condition relating to one or more of the at least one spray unit for the aerial vehicle operating within the environment over the time period, the determined air movement direction relative to the projection of the fore-aft axis onto the ground over the time period, and the determined air movement speed relative to the ground over the time period. The output unit is configured to output the spray record.

Abstract: A spray vehicle includes at least one boom, a plurality of spray units, at least one first actuator, at least one second actuator, a plurality of sensors, and a processing unit. The spray units are configured to spray pollen or a liquid chemical. The at least one first actuator is configured to move the at least one boom. The at least one second actuator is configured to control the spray units. At least one sensor is configured to measure a speed of the vehicle relative to the ground. At least one sensor is configured to measure an air movement direction relative to the vehicle. At least one sensor is configured to measure an air movement speed relative to the vehicle. The processing unit is configured to determine an air movement direction relative to the ground and determine an air movement speed relative to the ground.

Abstract: A spray vehicle includes at least one boom, a plurality of spray units, a plurality of sensors, a processing unit, and an output unit. The plurality of spray units are attached to the at least one boom. The spray units are configured to spray a liquid chemical. At least one sensor is configured to measure a speed of the vehicle relative to the ground. At least one sensor is configured to measure an air movement direction relative to the vehicle. At least one sensor is configured to measure an air movement speed relative to the vehicle. The processing unit is configured to determine an air movement direction relative to the ground and determine an air movement speed relative to the ground. The processing unit is configured to generate a spray record for an environment within which the vehicle is operating. The output unit is configured to output the spray record.

Abstract: A spray vehicle includes at least one boom, a plurality of spray units, at least one first actuator, at least one second actuator, a plurality of sensors, and a processing unit. The spray units are configured to spray pollen or a liquid chemical. The at least one first actuator is configured to move the at least one boom. The at least one second actuator is configured to control the spray units. At least one sensor is configured to measure a speed of the vehicle relative to the ground. At least one sensor is configured to measure an air movement direction relative to the vehicle. At least one sensor is configured to measure an air movement speed relative to the vehicle. The processing unit is configured to determine an air movement direction relative to the ground and determine an air movement speed relative to the ground.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an unmanned aerial vehicle (10) for spraying an agricultural field. The UAV has a liquid reservoir (20), a liquid spray gun (30), and a plurality of sets of rotor blades (40). The liquid spray gun has a spray axis extending away from the liquid spray gun. Each one of the plurality of sets of rotor blades is connected to a corresponding one of a plurality of drive shafts (50). A first drive shaft (51) of the plurality of drive shafts has a first drive axis extending longitudinally through the first drive shaft that is configured to be at a first angle to the spray axis. A second drive shaft (52) of the plurality of drive shafts has a second drive axis extending longitudinally through the second drive shaft that is configured to be at a second angle to the spray axis. The first drive axis and second drive axis are located in substantially the same first-second plane.