Patents by Inventor Richard Lawler

Richard Lawler 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: 10814976
    Abstract: A method includes controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to collect and forward information pertaining to a forestry worksite area. The UAV is controlled to fly to a first location and capture image information at the first location. The UAV is also controlled to fly to a second location, establish a communication connection between the UAV and a communication system at the second location, and send the captured image information to the communication system via the established connection. In another example, the UAV uploads (e.g., sends) the data to a communication system (e.g., computing device operated by an operator), and the uploaded data is further sent to a remote computing system (e.g., a forestry analysis system).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Matthew J. Flood, Mark J. Cherney, Andrew W. Kahler, Richard Lawler
  • Patent number: 10569875
    Abstract: A method includes controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle to fly over a forestry worksite and capture imagery information with an image capture component. The imagery information is used to generate a set of ground disturbance metrics, each having a value indicative of a measure of ground disturbance at a different geographic location in the forestry worksite. Alternatively, the imagery information is used to generate a set of slope metrics or a firefighting metric. According to the ground disturbance, slope, and firefighting metrics, the method is used to generate an action signal, such as an action signal that controls movement of a mobile machine operating at the forestry worksite, among others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Matthew J. Flood, Mark J. Cherney, Andrew W. Kahler, Richard Lawler
  • Patent number: 10322803
    Abstract: A method includes generating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) control signal to fly the UAV over a worksite and capture imagery information at different geographic locations. The imagery information is used to generate a tree inventory metric that indicates a tree inventory at the worksite, or is used to generate a productivity metric that identifies a productivity category for a geographic location at the worksite. The method also generates an action signal based on the tree inventory metric or productivity metric, such as an action signal to deploy machines to different geographic location, or an action signal to update a worksite completion metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Matthew J. Flood, Mark J. Cherney, Andrew W. Kahler, Richard Lawler
  • Publication number: 20190100310
    Abstract: A method includes controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to collect and forward information pertaining to a forestry worksite area. The UAV is controlled to fly to a first location and capture image information at the first location. The UAV is also controlled to fly to a second location, establish a communication connection between the UAV and a communication system at the second location, and send the captured image information to the communication system via the established connection. In another example, the UAV uploads (e.g., sends) the data to a communication system (e.g., computing device operated by an operator), and the uploaded data is further sent to a remote computing system (e.g., a forestry analysis system).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Matthew J. Flood, Mark J. Cherney, Andrew W. Kahler, Richard Lawler
  • Publication number: 20190100309
    Abstract: A method includes generating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) control signal to fly the UAV over a worksite and capture imagery information at different geographic locations. The imagery information is used to generate a tree inventory metric that indicates a tree inventory at the worksite, or is used to generate a productivity metric that identifies a productivity category for a geographic location at the worksite. The method also generates an action signal based on the tree inventory metric or productivity metric, such as an action signal to deploy machines to different geographic location, or an action signal to update a worksite completion metric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Matthew J. Flood, Mark J. Cherney, Andrew W. Kahler, Richard Lawler
  • Publication number: 20190102623
    Abstract: A method includes controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle to fly over a forestry worksite and capture imagery information with an image capture component. The imagery information is used to generate a set of ground disturbance metrics, each having a value indicative of a measure of ground disturbance at a different geographic location in the forestry worksite. Alternatively, the imagery information is used to generate a set of slope metrics or a firefighting metric. According to the ground disturbance, slope, and firefighting metrics, the method is used to generate an action signal, such as an action signal that controls movement of a mobile machine operating at the forestry worksite, among others.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Matthew J. Flood, Mark J. Cherney, Andrew W. Kahler, Richard Lawler