Abstract: During crop dusting application, there is no accurate method to detect the quantity of dry product onboard. This can lead to improper application rates and waste of product. The dry quantity gauge system solves this problem. The system detects strain on select structures of the aircraft during flight. The system monitors other in-flight aircraft characteristics that induce errors on the payload weight estimation. The software filter changes the influence of collected measurements based on the sensor data. The result is a stable and reliable payload estimate for the pilot at any given time during flight even during product application. Since the pilot will always know the amount of product onboard, it builds pilot's intuition, reduces workload, and ensures a more accurate application for the client. There are no similar systems to date that weigh the aircraft payload in flight.

Abstract: A crop duster dump gate opens and closes to turn on and off the flow of payload out of the hopper. The traditional mechanical gate is actuated by the pilot through mechanical linkages. The effort required by the pilot to open and close the gate requires significant force and can lead to fatigue or injury. The powered dump gate system is an add-on to the existing traditional mechanical gate system by a booster that is hydraulic, pneumatic, or electric. The powered dump gate eliminates strenuous effort by the pilot and requires no change to the pilot's work environment and methods.

Abstract: A system for determining the quantity of a liquid agricultural product available for spraying on a field from a tank in an airplane comprising a payload storage tank for holding the agricultural product, an elongated magnetostrictive linear displacement transducer tube located vertically in the aircraft payload storage tank, a probe float slidably coupled to move up or down on the elongated magnetostrictive linear displacement transducer tube, and a permanent magnet coupled to the probe float. The position of the magnet is sensed by the elongated magnetostrictive linear displacement transducer tube which generates a signal that marks the level of the liquid in the aircraft payload storage tank, and converter means converts the generated signal that marks the level of the liquid in the aircraft payload storage tank to a quantity of liquid in the aircraft payload storage tank which is displayed to the pilot.

Abstract: A system for determining the quantity of a liquid agricultural product available for spraying on a field from a tank in an airplane comprising a payload storage tank for holding the agricultural product, an elongated magnetostrictive linear displacement transducer tube located vertically in the aircraft payload storage tank, a probe float slidably coupled to move up or down on the elongated magnetostrictive linear displacement transducer tube, and a permanent magnet coupled to the probe float. The position of the magnet is sensed by the elongated magnetostrictive linear displacement transducer tube which generates a signal that marks the level of the liquid in the aircraft payload storage tank, and converter means converts the generated signal that marks the level of the liquid in the aircraft payload storage tank to a quantity of liquid in the aircraft payload storage tank which is displayed to the pilot.