Patents by Inventor STEVE THOMAS HOYLE

STEVE THOMAS HOYLE has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11131995
    Abstract: Various autonomous aquatic herbicide application vessels are described. In one embodiment, a system for aquatic herbicide application includes an aquatic vessel, a propulsion system to propel the aquatic vessel over a body of water, a holding container to hold a substance, a substance applicator to apply the substance to the body of water, and a controller. The controller can include a control processor configured to navigate the aquatic vessel using the propulsion system and apply the substance to the body of water using the substance applicator. According to one embodiment, the system includes a global positioning system to determine a geographic location of the system and a memory to store a route for application of the substance in the body of water. Further, the controller is configured to autonomously control the propulsion system to track the route based on changes in the geographic location of the system over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: North Carolina State University
    Inventors: Robert Jeryl Richardson, Jr., Steve Thomas Hoyle, Justin Jerome Nawrocki
  • Publication number: 20180275660
    Abstract: Various autonomous aquatic herbicide application vessels are described. In one embodiment, a system for aquatic herbicide application includes an aquatic vessel, a propulsion system to propel the aquatic vessel over a body of water, a holding container to hold a substance, a substance applicator to apply the substance to the body of water, and a controller. The controller can include a control processor configured to navigate the aquatic vessel using the propulsion system and apply the substance to the body of water using the substance applicator. According to one embodiment, the system includes a global positioning system to determine a geographic location of the system and a memory to store a route for application of the substance in the body of water. Further, the controller is configured to autonomously control the propulsion system to track the route based on changes in the geographic location of the system over time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: ROBERT JERYL RICHARDSON, Jr., STEVE THOMAS HOYLE, JUSTIN JEROME NAWROCKI