Device and method for managing bird populations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10327424-B2
Application number	US-201715601015-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 22, 2017
Priority date	May 23, 2016
Publication date	Jun 25, 2019
Grant date	Jun 25, 2019

Abstract

The system for managing bird populations includes a drone; a disruptor comprising an extension arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being operatively coupled with the drone, and the distal end comprising a tool portion, where the tool portion comprises a piercing element constructed for engagement with one or more eggs in a nest; and a remote control system. The remote control system may comprise one or more remote control units and a monitor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for managing bird populations, the system comprising:
(a) a drone; and
(b) a disruptor comprising an extension arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being operatively coupled with the drone, and the distal end comprising a tool portion,
wherein the tool portion comprises a piercing element constructed for engagement with one or more eggs in a nest.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a remote control system.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the remote control system comprises one or more remote control units and a monitor.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the remote control system is adapted for communication with the drone.

5. The system of any one of claim 3 , wherein the one or more remote control units are adapted to send signals to the drone, and wherein the drone comprises one or more receivers for receiving the signals.

6. The system of any one of claim 2 , wherein the drone comprises a transmitter for sending signals or data or both.

7. The system of any one of claim 2 , wherein the drone comprises a GPS receiver.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the remote control system is capable of receiving GPS data from the drone.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tool portion comprises a hub with a distal surface and a plurality of piercing elements, and wherein the plurality of piercing elements extend outwardly from the distal surface of the hub.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the hub has a bowl shape, and wherein the distal surface of the hub is a convex surface of the bowl shape.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of piercing elements comprise needles.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of piercing elements are coupled with the hub at a proximal end of each piercing element, and wherein the plurality of piercing elements comprise a sharp distal end.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of piercing elements are constructed of metal.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of piercing elements are constructed of stainless steel.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the hub has a width of about 15 to about 30 cm.

16. The system of claim 9 , wherein the hub has a depth of about 1 to about 20 cm.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the disruptor further comprises a disruptor actuator for actuating a position of the extension arm between a flight position and an engagement position.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the disruptor actuator is capable of maintaining the extension arm in the flight position when the drone is flying.

19. The system of claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the extension arm is coupled with an underside of the drone.

20. A method for managing bird populations with a drone, wherein the drone comprises a disruptor comprising an extension arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being operatively coupled with the drone, and the distal end comprising a tool portion constructed to engage with eggs, the method comprising:
(a) flying the drone above a bird's nest;
(b) positioning the drone above the bird's nest; and
(c) descending the drone to disrupt eggs in the bird's nest.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the tool portion comprises a plurality of piercing elements constructed to pierce one or more eggs in the bird's nest.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the drone comprises a GPS receiver and a transmitter for transmitting GPS data, and wherein the drone is positioned above the bird's nest using the GPS data.

23. The method of claim 20 further comprising recording GPS data on birds' nest locations.

24. The method of claim 20 further comprising ascending the drone and repeating steps (a)-(c).

Assignees

• Ecolab Usa Inc

Inventors

• Ollier Steven

Classifications

• B64U2201/20

  Remote controls · CPC title

• A01M29/00

  Scaring or repelling devices, e.g. bird-scaring apparatus · CPC title

• A01K45/00 Primary

  Other aviculture appliances, e.g. devices for determining whether a bird is about to lay · CPC title

• A22B3/00

  Slaughtering or stunning ({anaesthetising animals A61D7/04}; cutting in general B26) · CPC title

• A01K43/00

  Testing, sorting or cleaning eggs (investigating or analysing eggs, e.g. by candling G01N33/08); {Conveying devices (for batteries A01K31/165); Pick-up devices} · CPC title