Windproof aerial dispensing method and system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11420743-B2
Application number	US-201916557304-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 30, 2019
Priority date	Mar 3, 2017
Publication date	Aug 23, 2022
Grant date	Aug 23, 2022

Abstract

An aerial dispensing method includes obtaining a wind velocity of a wind that causes a drift to a substance dispensed from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and controlling one or more components of the UAV based on the obtained wind velocity to cause at least mitigation to the drift.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An aerial dispensing method, comprising:
obtaining a wind velocity of a wind that causes a drift to a substance dispensed from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); and
controlling one or more components of the UAV based on the obtained wind velocity to cause at least mitigation to the drift, including:
obtaining a target landing location of the dispensed substance in a no-wind condition;
obtaining a landing location of the dispensed substance from the UAV at a first attitude based on the obtained wind velocity, the landing location being different from the target landing location; and
controlling a UAV propulsion system to cause an angular movement in at least one of a pitch, roll, or yaw angle of the UAV to cause the UAV to rotate to a second attitude to at least partially counter the obtained wind velocity, wherein the dispensed substance from the UAV at the second attitude lands at the target landing location.

2. The aerial dispensing method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the wind velocity comprises determining the wind velocity based on at least one of a UAV status, a UAV propulsion system status, a user entered parameter, or a wind gauge measurement by a wind gauge disposed on the UAV.

3. The aerial dispensing method of claim 1 , wherein:
obtaining the wind velocity comprises determining the wind velocity based on comparing a first spatial disposition of the UAV with a second spatial disposition of the UAV; and
the first spatial disposition is predetermined in a no-wind condition or is associated with a predetermined wind condition.

4. The aerial dispensing method of claim 3 , wherein the first and second spatial dispositions of the UAV each comprises a pitch angle and a roll angle of the UAV.

5. The aerial dispensing method of claim 1 , wherein:
the drift comprises a horizontal shift from the target landing location of the dispensed substance.

6. The aerial dispensing method of claim 1 , wherein the dispensed substance comprises at least one of a nutrient, a seed, a pesticide, a herbicide, or a chemical fire extinguisher.

7. The aerial dispensing method of claim 1 , wherein the dispensed substance comprises at least one of a liquid, a powder, or a particle.

8. The aerial dispensing method of claim 1 , wherein controlling the one or more components of the UAV further comprises at least one of:
controlling the UAV propulsion system to cause a linear movement of the UAV to at least partially counter the obtained wind velocity; or
controlling a nozzle system to cause at least one of a linear movement or a change in dispensing direction of at least one nozzle relative to the UAV, to at least partially counter the obtained wind velocity.

9. The aerial dispensing method of claim 8 , wherein controlling the UAV propulsion system comprises controlling at least a rotor speed, causing at least a change in altitude or horizontal position of the UAV.

10. The aerial dispensing method of claim 8 , wherein controlling the nozzle system comprises at least one of:
controlling the at least one nozzle to extend or contract; or
controlling at least one of a pitch, roll, or yaw angle of the at least one nozzle relative to the UAV.

11. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:
a frame;
one or more propulsion systems mounted on the frame;
one or more nozzle systems coupled to at least one of the frame or the one or more propulsion systems and configured to dispense a substance from the UAV; and
one or more controllers coupled to at least one of the one or more propulsion systems or the one or more nozzle systems and configured to:
control at least one of the one or more propulsion systems or the one or more nozzle systems based on a wind velocity, to cause at least mitigation to a drift of the substance from wind, including:
obtaining a target landing location of the dispensed substance in a no-wind condition;
obtaining a landing location of the dispensed substance from the UAV at a first attitude based on the obtained wind velocity, the landing location being different from the target landing location; and
controlling the one or more propulsion systems to cause an angular movement in at least one of a pitch, roll, or yaw angle of the UAV to cause the UAV to rotate to a second attitude to at least partially counter the obtained wind velocity, wherein the dispensed substance from the UAV at the second attitude lands at the target landing location.

12. The UAV of claim 11 , wherein the one or more controllers are configured to obtain the wind velocity based on at least one of a UAV status, a UAV propulsion system status, a user entered parameter, or a wind gauge measurement by a wind gauge coupled to the one or more controllers.

13. The UAV of claim 11 , wherein:
to obtain the wind velocity, the one or more controllers are configured to compare a first spatial disposition of the UAV with a second spatial disposition of the UAV; and
the first spatial disposition is predetermined in a no-wind condition or is associated with a predetermined wind condition.

14. The UAV of claim 13 , wherein the first and second spatial dispositions of the UAV each comprises a pitch angle and a roll angle of the UAV.

15. The UAV of claim 11 , wherein:
the drift comprises a horizontal shift from the target landing location of the dispensed substance.

16. The UAV of claim 11 , wherein the dispensed substance comprises at least one of a nutrient, a seed, a pesticide, a herbicide, or a chemical fire extinguisher.

17. The UAV of claim 11 , wherein the dispensed substance comprises at least one of a liquid, a powder, or a particle.

18. The UAV of claim 11 , wherein to control at least one of the propulsion systems or the nozzle systems based on the wind velocity, the one or more controllers are further configured to perform at least one of:
controlling the one or more propulsion systems to cause a linear movement of the UAV to at least partially counter the wind velocity; or
controlling the one or more nozzle systems to cause at least one of a linear movement or a change in dispensing direction of at least one nozzle relative to the UAV, to at least partially counter the obtained wind velocity.

19. The UAV of claim 18 , wherein to control the one or more propulsion systems, the one or more controllers are configured to control at least a rotor speed, causing at least a change in altitude or horizontal position of the UAV.

20. The UAV of claim 18 , wherein to control the one or more nozzle systems, the one or more controllers are configured to perform at least one of:
controlling the at least one nozzle to extend or contract; or
controlling at least one of a pitch, roll, or yaw angle of the at least one nozzle relative to the UAV.

Assignees

• Sz Dji Technology Co Ltd

Inventors

• Wu Xumin
• Yan Guang
• Feng Zhuang

Classifications

• B64U2201/20

  Remote controls · CPC title

• B64U2201/10

  autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS] · CPC title

• B64D1/18 Primary

  by spraying, e.g. insecticides · CPC title

• B05B13/005

  mounted on vehicles or designed to apply a liquid on a very large surface, e.g. on the road, on the surface of large containers · CPC title

• B64C39/024

  of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV · CPC title