Patents by Inventor Peter James Roberts

Peter James Roberts 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).

  • Publication number: 20240424386
    Abstract: The invention relates to a marking device (10; 100) for marking a football field layout. The marking device (10; 100) comprises a drive unit (1; 101) and a trailer unit (2; 102), wherein the drive unit (1; 101) comprises a frame, at least three wheels (8a-8c, 108a-108c) for carrying the frame, in particular one line spray nozzle (11) for marking straight lines on the ground, the line spray nozzle (11), being fixedly attached to the frame or moveably attached to the frame for adjusting the position of the line spray nozzle (11), a motor (16a) for driving at least one of the wheels (8a-8c) of the drive unit (1) and/or a handle (16b) for a user to push the drive unit (101), in particular a drive unit pump (28) for pumping paint to the nozzle, and a command unit (5) for commanding the pump and/or nozzle and/or motor. The drive unit (1; 101) and the trailer unit (2; 102) are attached through a coupling, in such a way, that the trailer unit (2; 102) is pullable by the drive unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Applicant: SWOZI AG
    Inventors: Mario HUTTER, Peter James ROBERTS, Brendan Paul MCCARTHY, Alexander BAUMGARTNER
  • Publication number: 20240365769
    Abstract: A method of controlling at least one spray head of a crop sprayer includes capturing, as the crop sprayer traverses a field, a color image of an area of the field to be potentially sprayed by a first spray head, dividing at least part of the captured image into a first set of sub-areas, determining whether at least a defined number of the sub-areas corresponding to the first spray head include at least a defined number of pixels having defined color values corresponding to foliage to be sprayed, and activating the first spray head upon at least the defined number of the sub-areas areas corresponding to the first spray head having more than the defined threshold of pixels within the defined color values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Inventors: Peter James Roberts, Robert James Johnson, Matthew James Fraser
  • Patent number: 11732427
    Abstract: A holder (1) for fixing a cylindrical spray can (2). The holder (1) comprises a holding unit (3) for fixing the spray can (2) with a first mechanical interface (4) for connecting a GNSS receiver (5) or prism to the holding unit (3). The holding unit (3) is adapted to hold the spray can (2) such that the GNSS receiver (5) or prism and the spray can (2) are arranged coaxially to each other. The holding unit (3) comprises a second mechanical interface (6) for releasably connecting the holder (1) to a frame (7) of a surveying cart (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Swozi AG
    Inventors: Mario Hutter, Peter James Roberts
  • Patent number: 11590410
    Abstract: It is suggested to provide a line marking device having a GNSS receiver or prism for a robotic total station. The line marking device further has at least one spray nozzle and a comparator adapted to compare a detected location to a predetermined pattern. The comparator calculates a location and/or a direction error. Further the line marking device has a prompting device for providing steering information to a user. The provided information is the location and/or direction error. The at least one spray nozzle and the GNSS receiver or the prism are in a fixed spatial relation to a connecting element, which is connected or connectable to an unmovable receiving element of a cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: SWOZI AG
    Inventors: Peter James Roberts, Aleksander Valdis Velde, Donald John Hill, Brendan Paul McCarthy, Mathias Wäckerlin, Patrick Specker, Mario Hutter
  • Patent number: 11198979
    Abstract: A line marking device (1) comprising a cart (2) with at least one steerable wheel (3) and at least two moving elements (4, 5). The steerable wheel (3) is rotatable around its axle (13) and pivotable such that the cart (2) is steered in a desired direction. The line marking device (1) comprises a GNSS receiver (7) or a robotic total station mounted on the cart (2). The line marking device (1) also comprises at least one spray nozzle (8), for marking a line, which is mounted on the cart and directed towards the ground below the line marking device (1). The device (1) comprises an interface mounted on the cart for a comparator to compare a detected location by the GNSS receiver (7) to a predetermined pattern. The cart (2) may comprise a motor (14) which is adapted to pivot the steerable wheel (3) towards an intended movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: SWOZI AG
    Inventors: Mario Hutter, Peter James Roberts, Aleksander Valdis Velde, Mathias Wäckerlin, Patrick Specker
  • Publication number: 20200157751
    Abstract: A line marking device (1) comprising a cart (2) with at least one steerable wheel (3) and at least two moving elements (4, 5). The steerable wheel (3) is rotatable around its axle (13) and pivotable such that the cart (2) is steered in a desired direction. The line marking device (1) comprises a GNSS receiver (7) or a robotic total station mounted on the cart (2). The line marking device (1) also comprises at least one spray nozzle (8), for marking a line, which is mounted on the cart and directed towards the ground below the line marking device (1). The device (1) comprises an interface mounted on the cart for a comparator to compare a detected location by the GNSS receiver (7) to a predetermined pattern. The cart (2) may comprise a motor (14) which is adapted to pivot the steerable wheel (3) towards an intended movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Mario HUTTER, Peter James ROBERTS, Aleksander Valdis VELDE, Mathias WÄCKERLIN, Patrick SPECKER
  • Publication number: 20200123718
    Abstract: A holder (1) for fixing a cylindrical spray can (2) is disclosed. The holder (1) comprises a holding unit (3) for fixing the spray can (2) with a first mechanical interface (4) for connecting a GNSS receiver (5) or a prism to the holding unit (3). The holding unit (3) is adapted to hold the spray can (2) such that the GNSS receiver (5) or the prism and the spray can (2) are arranged coaxially with respect to each other. The holding unit (3) comprises a second mechanical interface (6) for releasably connecting the holder (1) to a frame (7) of a surveying cart (8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Mario HUTTER, Peter James ROBERTS
  • Publication number: 20190038960
    Abstract: It is suggested to provide a line marking device having a GNSS receiver or prism for a robotic total station. The line marking device further has at least one spray nozzle and a comparator adapted to compare a detected location to a predetermined pattern. The comparator calculates a location and/or a direction error. Further the line marking device has a prompting device for providing steering information to a user. The provided information is the location and/or direction error. The at least one spray nozzle and the GNSS receiver or the prism are in a fixed spatial relation to a connecting element, which is connected or connectable to an unmovable receiving element of a cart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Peter James ROBERTS, Aleksander Valdis VELDE, Donald John HILL, Brendan Paul MCCARTHY, Mathias WÄCKERLIN, Patrick SPECKER, Mario HUTTER
  • Patent number: 8600601
    Abstract: A positioning method that calculates a lower accuracy positioning solution and applies an offset to the lower accuracy positioning solution to form a final positioning solution if a higher accuracy positioning solution is unavailable. The offset represents a difference between the lower accuracy positioning solution and the higher accuracy positioning solution at a point in time when the higher accuracy positioning solution was last available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: William James Kellar, Damien Dusha, Stuart Gray, Peter James Roberts
  • Patent number: 8577606
    Abstract: Systems and methods for guiding a vehicle and vehicle sensor bias determination methods are disclosed. A method for guiding a vehicle includes a primary antenna of a primary survey-grade GNSS-receiver and a secondary antenna of a secondary GNSS-receiver mounted to the vehicle, which are at least temporarily receiving GNSS-signals of a global positioning system. A plurality of physical sensors mounted to the vehicle generate physical data indicative of respective measured physical parameters of at least part of the vehicle. The method includes de-biasing the physical data and applying a recursive statistical estimator, such as a Kalman filter, to the de-biased physical data and an output of the primary and secondary GNSS-receivers to determine a position and velocity of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Peter James Roberts, William James Kellar
  • Patent number: 8571794
    Abstract: Systems and methods for guiding a vehicle and vehicle sensor bias determination methods are disclosed. A method for guiding a vehicle includes a primary antenna of a primary survey-grade GNSS-receiver and a secondary antenna of a secondary GNSS-receiver mounted to the vehicle, which are at least temporarily receiving GNSS-signals of a global positioning system. A plurality of physical sensors mounted to the vehicle generate physical data indicative of respective measured physical parameters of at least part of the vehicle. The method includes de-biasing the physical data and applying a recursive statistical estimator, such as a Kalman filter, to the de-biased physical data and an output of the primary and secondary GNSS-receivers to determine a position and velocity of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Peter James Roberts, William James Kellar
  • Patent number: 8340905
    Abstract: Systems and methods for guiding a vehicle and vehicle sensor bias determination methods are disclosed. A method for guiding a vehicle includes a primary antenna of a primary survey-grade GNSS-receiver and a secondary antenna of a secondary GNSS-receiver mounted to the vehicle, which are at least temporarily receiving GNSS-signals of a global positioning system. A plurality of physical sensors mounted to the vehicle generate physical data indicative of respective measured physical parameters of at least part of the vehicle. The method includes de-biasing the physical data and applying a recursive statistical estimator, such as a Kalman filter, to the de-biased physical data and an output of the primary and secondary GNSS-receivers to determine a position and velocity of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Peter James Roberts, William James Keller
  • Publication number: 20120271489
    Abstract: Agricultural vehicles are guided to prevent overlap of areas operated on by the vehicles. Guidance data is shared between agricultural vehicles by coverage data of area covered by a first agricultural vehicle being wirelessly transmitted to a central server. Download guidance data is generated at the central server using the coverage data received at the central server. The download guidance data is wirelessly transmitted from the server to a second guidance device of a second agricultural vehicle. The second agricultural vehicle uses the download guidance data to not overlap with area covered by the first agricultural vehicle while operating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Peter James Roberts, Peter Andrew Bailey
  • Publication number: 20120095679
    Abstract: Systems and methods for guiding a vehicle and vehicle sensor bias determination methods are disclosed. A method for guiding a vehicle includes a primary antenna of a primary survey-grade GNSS-receiver and a secondary antenna of a secondary GNSS-receiver mounted to the vehicle, which are at least temporarily receiving GNSS-signals of a global positioning system. A plurality of physical sensors mounted to the vehicle generate physical data indicative of respective measured physical parameters of at least part of the vehicle. The method includes de-biasing the physical data and applying a recursive statistical estimator, such as a Kalman filter, to the de-biased physical data and an output of the primary and secondary GNSS-receivers to determine a position and velocity of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Peter James Roberts, William James Keller
  • Patent number: 8131462
    Abstract: Systems and methods for guiding a vehicle and vehicle sensor bias determination methods are disclosed. A method for guiding a vehicle includes a primary antenna of a primary survey-grade GNSS-receiver and a secondary antenna of a secondary GNSS-receiver mounted to the vehicle, which are at least temporarily receiving GNSS-signals of a global positioning system. A plurality of physical sensors mounted to the vehicle generate physical data indicative of respective measured physical parameters of at least part of the vehicle. The method includes de-biasing the physical data and applying a recursive statistical estimator, such as a Kalman filter, to the de-biased physical data and an output of the primary and secondary GNSS-receivers to determine a position and velocity of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Peter James Roberts, William James Keller
  • Publication number: 20110307138
    Abstract: A positioning method that calculates a lower accuracy positioning solution and applies an offset to the lower accuracy positioning solution to form a final positioning solution if a higher accuracy positioning solution is unavailable. The offset represents a difference between the lower accuracy positioning solution and the higher accuracy positioning solution at a point in time when the higher accuracy positioning solution was last available.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: William James Kellar, Damien Dusha, Stuart Gray, Peter James Roberts
  • Publication number: 20090222204
    Abstract: Systems and methods for guiding a vehicle and vehicle sensor bias determination methods are disclosed. A method for guiding a vehicle includes a primary antenna of a primary survey-grade GNSS-receiver and a secondary antenna of a secondary GNSS-receiver mounted to the vehicle, which are at least temporarily receiving GNSS-signals of a global positioning system. A plurality of physical sensors mounted to the vehicle generate physical data indicative of respective measured physical parameters of at least part of the vehicle. The method includes de-biasing the physical data and applying a recursive statistical estimator, such as a Kalman filter, to the de-biased physical data and an output of the primary and secondary GNSS-receivers to determine a position and velocity of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventors: Peter James Roberts, William James Keller