Patents by Inventor Andrew Charles Chapple
Andrew Charles Chapple 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).
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Patent number: 12252278Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2021Date of Patent: March 18, 2025Assignee: BAYER AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Malcolm Faers, Andrew Charles Chapple
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Patent number: 12145728Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2020Date of Patent: November 19, 2024Assignee: BAYER AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Malcolm Faers, Andrew Charles Chapple
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Patent number: 12099369Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2020Date of Patent: September 24, 2024Assignee: Bayer AktiengesellschaftInventor: Andrew Charles Chapple
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Patent number: 12097960Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2020Date of Patent: September 24, 2024Assignee: Bayer AktiengesellschaftInventors: Malcolm Faers, Andrew Charles Chapple
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Patent number: 12055949Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2020Date of Patent: August 6, 2024Assignee: BAYER AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventor: Andrew Charles Chapple
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Publication number: 20120122696Abstract: The invention is directed to the use of oil based suspension concentrates containing a) at least one agrochemical active compound which is solid at room temperature, b) at least one penetration enhancer, c) at least one vegetable or mineral or paraffin oil, d) at least one non-ionic surfactant or dispersing agent and/or at least one anionic surfactant or dispersing agent and e) optionally one or more other additives for the reduction of the drift of a spray liquid containing the oil-based suspension concentrate during spray application.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2011Publication date: May 17, 2012Applicant: Bayer CropScience AGInventors: Ronald Vermeer, Andrew Charles Chapple, Reinhard Frießleben
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Publication number: 20020100819Abstract: A multiple nozzle sprayer that includes a fixed or swing bracket assembly configured with a mounting bracket fixedly or adjustably attached by at least one pivot pin to an outwardly projecting angle arm. The mounting bracket is formed with a mounting pad, and the mounting bracket and the angle arm are each formed with at least one nozzle mounting portion. Also included are first and second nozzles mounted to the nozzle mounting portions and configured to project respective spray clouds to intersect. The first nozzle spray cloud is configured with a predetermined droplet size spectra that is greater than that of the second spray nozzle. The first nozzle can be further configured to spray a cloud of a carrier fluid and the second nozzle can be configured to spray an active fluid in a spray cloud that combines with the carrier fluid spray cloud.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2002Publication date: August 1, 2002Applicant: The Ohio Sate UniversityInventors: Robin A. J. Taylor, Andrew Charles Chapple
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Patent number: 6375089Abstract: A multiple nozzle sprayer that includes a fixed or swing bracket assembly configured with a mounting bracket fixedly or adjustably attached by at least one pivot pin to an outwardly projecting angle arm. The mounting bracket is formed with a mounting pad, and the mounting bracket and the angle arm are each formed with at least one nozzle mounting portion. Also included are first and second nozzles mounted to the nozzle mounting portions and configured to project respective spray clouds to intersect. The first nozzle spray cloud is configured with a predetermined droplet size spectra that is greater than that of the second spray nozzle. The first nozzle can be further configured to spray a cloud of a carrier fluid and the second nozzle can be configured to spray an active fluid in a spray cloud that combines with the carrier fluid spray cloud.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2000Date of Patent: April 23, 2002Assignee: The Ohio State UniversityInventors: Robin A. J. Taylor, Andrew Charles Chapple