DESC:FIELD OF DISCLOSURE
The present disclosure relates generally to unmanned aerial vehicles and more particularly to a system and a method for deploying seeds and/or seed balls via an unmanned aerial vehicle.
BACKGROUND
With the development of human and industrial civilization, most of the earth’s land area has been acquired by cutting trees from forests. In recent times, effects of deforestation have started posing various environmental challenges. Therefore, there is a growing need for afforestation i.e., planting trees. Conventionally, human laborers are deployed for this process of afforestation. However, there are various problems associated with this process, for example, it is neither practical nor feasible for the human laborer to take up this process as it is very taxing and involves untamed terrain. Further, the problem also arises when there is a need for plantation in wildfire-infested forest areas, as land in these areas may not usually be accessible by humans.
Currently, unmanned aerial vehicles such as drones with seed dropping capability are used, to solve the problem. However, drones known in the state of art are smaller in size and takes longer time for dropping seeds. Further, drones known in the state of art are unable to carry heavy payload with high seed capacity and low seeding time. Further, drones known in the state of art are difficult to manufacture with high manufacturing cost and cannot achieve mass production. Furthermore, for determining the type of trees to be grown in a particular area, the current ways of afforestation via these drones do not consider the various parameters such as type of soil, climate, indigenous seed varieties and their historical growth data, etc. Furthermore, the state of art afforestation practices does not consider ecological science and forest management practices while selecting species of the seeds.
Further, drones known in the state of art for seed dropping do not provide any facility to monitor the number of seeds dropped at any given time i.e., seed dropping rate. Unmonitored release of seeds without a defined seed dropping rate leads to emptying of a hopper of the drones without covering a substantial area for seed dropping. Further, seeds present in the hopper of the drones are prone to jamming and congestion. The jamming and congestion led to the malfunctioning of the drones and eventually crashing of the drone due to concentration of the payload at the bottom of the hopper near the seed dropping mechanism of the drone. Further, the hopper of the drones known in the current state of art for seed dropping not flexible and modular enough to accommodate the seeds of different shapes and sizes. Further, the hopper of the drones known in the current state of art have crevices and openings and, the seeds may be spilled through the crevices and the openings. The spilling of seeds may compromise the center of gravity of the drones thereby affecting the structural integrity of the drones as well as the hopper while the drone is flying.
Thus, there is a need for a technical solution that overcomes the aforementioned problems of conventional ways of afforestation, and drones known in the state of art.
SUMMARY
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In an aspect of the present disclosure, a method for deploying a plurality of, one of seeds, seedballs or a combination thereof, via an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed. The method includes receiving, by processing circuitry, one or more images captured by an imaging device of the UAV. The method includes receiving, by the processing circuitry, a plurality of sensor data corresponding to a plurality of parameters from a plurality of sensors disposed on the UAV. The method includes processing, by the processing circuitry, the received images and sensor data. The method includes operating, by the processing circuitry, a dropping mechanism based on the processed data for dropping the plurality of, one of the seeds, the seedballs, or the combination thereof. The dropping mechanism includes a wheel having a plurality of openings that are configured to align with a plurality of holes of a hopper. The method includes geotagging paths followed by the UAV, by the processing circuitry, while dropping the plurality of, one of the seeds, the seedballs, or the combination thereof.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, the plurality of sensors include one of: weight sensors, moisture sensors, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, wind speed sensors, Normalized Difference Red Edge (NDRE) sensors, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) sensors, Global Positioning System (GPS) sensors, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) sensors, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors, multi-spectral cameras, thermal cameras, and obstacle avoidance radars, or a combination thereof.

In some aspects of the present disclosure, the method includes detecting, by the processing circuitry, a blockage in the hopper. The method includes activating, by the processing circuitry, in response to detecting the blockage, at least one vibrator motor to vibrate the hopper and clear the blockage.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, the method includes determining, by the processing circuitry, a level of the plurality of, one of the seeds, the seedballs, or the combination thereof, In the hopper. The method includes initiating, by the processing circuitry, a return-to-base sequence to refill the hopper when the level of the plurality of, one of the seeds, the seedballs, or the combination thereof, falls below a predetermined threshold.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, the method includes analyzing, by the processing circuitry, soil health and crop growth based on the processed images and sensor data.
In an aspect of the present disclosure, a system for deploying a plurality of, one of seeds, seedballs, or a combination thereof, via an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed. The system includes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for deploying the plurality of, one of the seeds, the seedballs, or the combination thereof. The UAV includes a motor. The UAV includes a payload assembly coupled to the motor. The payload assembly includes a hopper configured to store the plurality of, one of the seeds, the seedballs, or the combination thereof. The payload assembly includes a plurality of holes disposed at a bottom of the hopper. The payload assembly includes a dropping mechanism disposed on the hopper. The dropping mechanism includes a wheel with a plurality of openings that are configured to align with the plurality of holes by way of the motor. The payload assembly includes at least one vibrator motor disposed on the hopper. The UAV includes an imaging device configured to capture one or more images. The UAV includes a plurality of sensors configured to sense a plurality of sensor data corresponding to a plurality of parameters. The UAV includes processing circuitry configured to receive the one or more images and the plurality of sensor data. The processing circuitry is configured to process the received images and the plurality of sensor data. The processing circuitry is configured to operate the motor to rotate the wheel based on the processed data and align the plurality of openings with a plurality of holes of the hopper to drop the plurality of the seeds, the seedballs, or the combination thereof. The processing circuitry is configured to geotag paths followed by the UAV while dropping the plurality of, one of the seeds, the seedballs, or the combination thereof.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, the plurality of sensors include one of: weight sensors, moisture sensors, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, wind speed sensors, Normalized Difference Red Edge (NDRE) sensors, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) sensors, Global Positioning System (GPS) sensors, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) sensors, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors, multi-spectral cameras, thermal cameras, obstacle avoidance radars, or a combination thereof.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, the processing circuitry is configured to detect a blockage in the hopper. The processing circuitry is configured to activate the at least one vibrator motor to vibrate the hopper and clear the blockage.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, the processing circuitry is configured to determine a level of the plurality of, one of the seeds, the seedballs, or the combination thereof, in the hopper. The processing circuitry is configured to initiate a return-to-base sequence to refill the hopper when the level of the plurality of, one of the seeds, the seedballs, or the combination thereof, falls below a predetermined threshold.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, the processing circuitry is configured to analyze soil health and crop growth based on the processed images and sensor data.
In an aspect of the present disclosure, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for deploying a plurality of, one of seeds, seedballs, or a combination thereof, is disclosed. The UAV includes a motor. The UAV includes a body. The body includes a payload assembly coupled to the motor. The payload assembly includes a hopper configured to store the plurality of, one of the seeds, the seedballs, or the combination thereof. The payload assembly includes a plurality of holes disposed at a bottom of the hopper. The payload assembly includes a dropping mechanism disposed on the hopper. The dropping mechanism includes a wheel with a plurality of openings that are configured to align with the plurality of holes by way of the motor. The payload assembly includes at least one vibrator motor disposed on the hopper. The UAV includes an imaging device configured to capture one or more images. The UAV includes a plurality of sensors configured to sense a plurality of sensor data corresponding to a plurality of parameters. The UAV includes processing circuitry configured to receive the one or more images and the plurality of sensor data. The processing circuitry is configured to process the received images and the plurality of sensor data. The processing circuitry is configured to operate the motor to rotate the wheel based on the processed data and align the plurality of openings with the plurality of holes of the hopper to drop the plurality of, one of the seeds, the seedballs, or the combination thereof. The processing circuitry is configured to geotag paths followed by the UAV while dropping the plurality of, one of the seeds, the seedballs, or the combination thereof.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, the body includes a central hub. The body includes a plurality of arms attached to the central hub. The body includes a pair of landing gears attached to a lower portion of the central hub.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, the plurality of sensors include one of: weight sensors, moisture sensors, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, wind speed sensors, Normalized Difference Red Edge (NDRE) sensors, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) sensors, Global Positioning System (GPS) sensors, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) sensors, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors, multi-spectral cameras, thermal cameras, obstacle avoidance radars, or a combination thereof.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, the processing circuitry is configured to detect a blockage in the hopper. The processing circuitry is configured to activate the at least one vibrator motor to vibrate the hopper and clear the blockage.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, the processing circuitry is configured to determine a level of the plurality of, one of the seeds, the seedballs, or the combination thereof, in the hopper. The processing circuitry is configured to initiate a return-to-base sequence to refill the hopper when the level of the plurality of, one of the seeds, the seedballs, or the combination thereof, falls below a predetermined threshold.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, the processing circuitry is configured to analyze soil health and crop growth based on the processed images and the plurality of sensor data.
The foregoing general description of the illustrative aspects and the following detailed description thereof are merely exemplary aspects of the teachings of this disclosure and are not restrictive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
The following detailed description of the preferred aspects of the present disclosure will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example, and not limited by the accompanying figures, in which like references indicate similar elements.
FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a system for deploying the plurality of seeds and/or seed balls via an unmanned aerial vehicle, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of the processing circuitry of FIG. 1 according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure;
FIGs. 3A and 3B illustrate a perspective view and a side view of the body of the UAV, respectively in accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure;
FIGs. 4A and 4B illustrate the front view and the bottom view of the payload assembly 308, respectively in accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure;
FIG. 5 illustrates a dropping mechanism 500, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;
FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart of a method 600 for deploying the plurality of seeds and/or seed balls, via the UAV 102, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure.
To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The following description sets forth exemplary aspects of the present disclosure. It should be recognized, however, that such description is not intended as a limitation on the scope of the present disclosure. Rather, the description also encompasses combinations and modifications to those exemplary aspects described herein.
FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a system 100 for deploying a plurality of seeds and/or seed balls via an unmanned aerial vehicle, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. The system 100 may include an unmanned aerial vehicle 102 (hereinafter referred to and designated as “the UAV 102”), a communication network 104, a processing circuitry 106, and a database 118. The UAV 102 and the processing circuitry 106 may be connected via the communication network 104.
The UAV 102 may be configured to fly over various land terrains and gather information about the land terrains. Upon gathering information about the land terrains, the UAV 102 may be configured to drop the plurality of the seeds and/or the seed balls in the land terrains at equal distances for planting trees.
The dropping and/or deploying of seed balls is a cost-effective and efficient method for reforestation. The seed balls include seeds that are coated in a mixture of soil, organic fertilizer, and beneficial microorganisms. The advantageous effect of using the seeds ball is to protect seeds from predation and harsh environmental conditions, while also providing a favorable environment for germination and growth. In an example, for preparing the seed balls, a mixture of sieved soil, organic fertilizer, perlite/vermiculite, and beneficial microbial cultures in a ratio of 1:0.5:0.25 is prepared, then water is added to the mixture to form a dough and a plurality of 0.5-1 inch seed balls are made from the dough, followed by incorporating 2-4 seeds into each 0.5-1 inch ball before allowing the seed balls to dry in air.
The UAV 102 may also be configured to facilitate in periodic monitoring of the land terrains in pre-determined intervals. The periodic monitoring of the land terrains may be attained by geotagging the paths followed by the UAV 102 during dropping the plurality of the seeds and/or the seed balls therein. The periodic monitoring of the land terrains by geotagging the paths followed by the UAV 102 after dropping the plurality of the seeds and/or the seed balls may help in providing traceability of the plurality of the seeds and/or the seed balls (hereinafter referred as “the seeds and/or the seed balls”) in their growth from seeds to trees.
The UAV 102 may include an unmanned aerial vehicle body 108 (hereinafter referred to and designated as “the body 108”), a plurality of sensors 110 (hereinafter referred to and designated as “the sensors 110”), an imaging device 112, a motor 114, and a communication interface 116. The sensors 110, the imaging device 112, the motor 114, and the communication interface 116 may be disposed on the body 108.
The body 108 may include a central hub (shown later in FIG.3) that may be configured to receive the sensors 110, the imaging device 112, the motor 114, and the communication interface 116.
The sensors 110 may be configured to sense a plurality of sensor data corresponding to a plurality of parameters associated with a surrounding environment and the land terrains. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the sensors 110 may be configured to sense congestions and blockages in the portions of the body 108 that are configured to deploy and/or drop the seeds and/or the seed balls.
Examples of the one or more sensors 110 may include, but not limited to, a proximity sensor or the like. Aspects of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any type of the sensors 110, including known, related, and later developed sensors, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, the sensors 110 may include weight sensors that may be configured to senses the seeds and/or the seed balls depletion level in a hopper (shown later). The sensors 110 may include moisture sensors that may be configured to sense soil hydration levels before seeding. The sensors 110 may further include temperature, humidity and wind speed sensors that may be configured to assess weather conditions. The sensors 110 may further include Normalized Difference Red Edge (NDRE) sensors that may be configured to sense crop growth in an area. The sensors 110 may further include Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) sensors that may be configured to senses unhealthy plants in the area. The sensors 110 may further include a global positioning system (GPS), Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) that may be configured for navigation and terrain mapping while the UAV flies. The sensors 110 may further include multi-spectral and thermal cameras that may be configured to vegetation health and soil temperature.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, the sensors 110 may include obstacle avoidance and terrain radars. The obstacle avoidance and terrain radars may help in detecting obstacles from a distance and thereby facilitates in avoiding the obstacles.
The imaging device 112 may be configured to capture surrounding areas and environment associated with the flying UAV 102. Specifically, the imaging device 112 may be configured to capture a real-time footage of the land terrains while the UAV 102 is flying over the land terrains.
Examples of the imaging device 112 may include but not limited to a digital camera, a thermal camera, a lidar, or the like. Aspects of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any type of the imaging device 112, including known, related, and later developed imaging device, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
The motor 114 may be configured to facilitate the aviation of the UAV 102 and facilitate in operating a dropping mechanism (shown later) to deploy the seeds and/or the seedballs.
The communication interface 116 may be configured to enable the user device 102 to connect with the communication network 104. The communication interface 116 may include suitable logic, circuitry, and interfaces that may be configured to establish and enable communication between the UAV 102 and different elements of the system 100, via the communication network 104. The communication interface 116 may be implemented by use of various known technologies to support wired or wireless communication of the UAV 102 with the communication network 104. The communication interface 116 may include, but is not limited to, an antenna, an RF transceiver, one or more amplifiers, a tuner, one or more oscillators, a digital signal processor, a CODEC chipset, a SIM card, and a local buffer circuit. Aspects of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any type of the communication interface 116, including known, related, and later developed imaging device, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
The communication network 104 may include suitable logic, circuitry, and interfaces that may be configured to provide a plurality of network ports and a plurality of communication channels for transmission and reception of data related to operations of various entities in the system 100. Each network port may correspond to a virtual address or a physical machine address for transmission and reception of the communication data. For example, the virtual address may be an Internet Protocol Version 4 IPV4 or an IPV6 address, and the physical address may be a Media Access Control MAC address. The communication network 104 may be associated with an application layer for implementation of communication protocols based on one or more communication requests from the UAV 102 and the processing circuitry 106. The communication data may be transmitted or received via the communication protocols. Examples of the communication protocols may include, but are not limited to, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), Domain Network System (DNS) protocol, Common Management Interface Protocol (CMIP), Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP), Long Term Evolution (LTE) communication protocols, or any combination thereof.
In one aspect, the communication data may be transmitted or received via at least one communication channel of a plurality of communication channels in the communication network 104. The communication channels may include, but are not limited to, a wireless channel, a wired channel, a combination of wireless and wired channel thereof. The wireless or wired channel may be associated with a data standard which may be defined by one of a Local Area Network (LAN), a Personal Area Network (PAN), a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN), Wireless Area Network (WAN), Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN), a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), a Satellite Network, the Internet, a Fiber Optic Network, a Coaxial Cable Network, an Infrared (IR) network, a Radio Frequency (RF) network, and a combination thereof. Aspects of the present disclosure are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of communication channel, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
The processing circuitry 106 may be configured to execute various operations associated with the system 100. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the processing circuitry 106 may be configured to communicate with the sensors 110, and the imaging device 112 and enable the motor 114 to execute the one or more operations associated with the system 100 by communicating one or more commands and/or instructions over the communication network 104. Examples of the processing circuitry 106 may include, but are not limited to, an ASIC processor, a RISC processor, a CISC processor, a FPGA, and the like. Aspects of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any type of the processing circuitry 106 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, the processing circuitry may be disposed on the UAV 102. In some other aspect of the present disclosure, the processing circuitry may be disposed on an information processing apparatus (not shown). The information processing apparatus may be a network of computers, a framework, or a combination thereof, that may provide a generalized approach to create a server implementation. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the information processing apparatus may be a server. Examples of the information processing apparatus may include, but are not limited to, personal computers, laptops, mini-computers, mainframe computers, any non-transient and tangible machine that can execute a machine-readable code, cloud-based servers, distributed server networks, or a network of computer systems. The information processing apparatus may be realized through various web-based technologies such as, but not limited to, a Java web-framework, a .NET framework, a personal home page (PHP) framework, or any other web-application framework.
The database 118 may be configured to store logic, instructions, circuitry, interfaces, and/or codes of the processing circuitry 106 to enable the processing circuitry 106 to execute the one or more operations associated with the system 100. The database 118 may be further configured to store therein, data associated with the system 100, and the like. It may be apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art that the database 118 may be configured to store various types of data associated with the system 100, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. Examples of the database 118 may include but are not limited to, a Relational database, a NoSQL database, a Cloud database, an Object oriented database, and the like. Aspects of the present disclosure are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the database 118 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. In some aspects of the present disclosure, a set of centralized or distributed network of peripheral memory devices may be interfaced with the information processing apparatus, as an example, on a cloud server.
FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of the processing circuitry 106 of FIG. 1 according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the processing circuitry 106 may include a data collection engine 200, a blockage determining engine 202, a soil and crop health analyzing health engine 204, a weather condition analyzing engine 206, a level determining engine 208, a data processing engine 210, a navigation and mapping engine 212, a display engine 214, and a communication bus 216. The data collection engine 200, the blockage determining engine 202, the soil and crop health analyzing health engine 204, the weather condition analyzing engine 206, the level determining engine 208, the data processing engine 210, the navigation and mapping engine 212, and the display engine 214 may be coupled to each other via the communication bus 216.
The data collection engine 200 may be configured to collect the data sensed by the sensors 110. The blockage determining engine 202 may be configured to receive the data from the data collection engine 200 and determine the blockages and congestion in the hopper of the body 108. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the blockage determining engine 202 may be configured to generate alerts by way of audio and visual signals and transmits the signals to a user device of a user (example: a drone pilot) by way of the display engine 214.
The soil and crop health analyzing engine 204 may be configured to receive the data from the data collection engine 200 and analyze soil health, soil temperature, variation in soil temperature, crop or vegetation growth, and unhealth plant in an area. The weather condition analyzing engine 206 may be configured to receive the data from the data collection engine 200 and analyze the temperature, humidity, wind speed, or the like.
The level determining engine 208 may be configured to receive the data from the data collection engine 200 and determine the level of the seeds and/or the seedballs in the hopper of the body 108. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the level determining engine 208 may enable the UAV 102 to return back to base for refiling of the seeds and/or the seed balls when the seeds and/or the seed balls level falls below a predetermined threshold. In other words, the level determining engine 208 may be configured to initiate a return-to-base sequence to refill the hopper (400) when the level of the seeds and/or the seed balls falls below a predetermined threshold. The level determining engine 208 may thereby improve efficiency of the UAV 102 by preventing unnecessary flights with empty hopper and ensures continuous and effective dispersal of the seeds and/or the seed balls.
The navigation and mapping engine 212 may be configured to receive the data from the data collection engine 200 and determine the location of the UAV 102 while flying. The navigation and mapping engine 212 may further be configured to determine geographical co-ordinate of the land terrain such as but not limited to, GPS location, latitude co-ordinates, longitudinal co-ordinates, or the like. The navigation and mapping engine 212 may further be configured to geotag the paths followed by the UAV 102 while dropping and/or deploying of the seeds and/or seed balls therein by the UAV 102. Geotagging of the paths may facilitate periodic monitoring of the land terrains and provide traceability of the seeds and/or seed balls in their growth from seeds to trees.
The data processing engine 210 may be configured to receive data corresponding to the determined blockages and congestion in the hopper of the body 108 and enable the motor 114 to move and/or vibrate a rod coupled to the hopper for continuously moving the seeds and/or the seed balls. The movement and/or vibration of the rod may therefore facilitate in removal of the congestion and blockage of the seeds and/or the seed balls in the hopper of the body 108. In some aspect, the data processing engine 210 may further be configured to operate a vibrator motor (shown later) that may be configured to generate vibrations. The vibrations generated by the vibrator motor may facilitate to evenly distribute the seeds and/or the seed balls, and discharge the dust accumulated in the hopper via a plurality of output holes (shown later).
In some aspects of the present disclosure, the data processing engine 210 may be configured to receive feedback data of the components of the UAV 102 and transmit the feedback data to the user device of the user by way of the display engine 214.
The display engine 214 may be configured to receive data from the blockage determining engine 202, the soil and crop health analyzing health engine 204, the weather condition analyzing engine 206, the level determining engine 208, the data processing engine 210, and the navigation and mapping engine 212. The display engine 214 may further be configured to display the data corresponding to the engine to the user device of the user.
FIGs. 3A and 3B illustrate a perspective view and a side view of the body 108 of the UAV 102, respectively in accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure. The body 108 may include a central hub 300, a plurality of arms 302a-302n (hereinafter collectively referred as “the arms 302”), a pair of landing gears 304, a plurality of connectors 306a-306n (hereinafter collectively referred as “the connectors 306”), and a payload assembly 308.
The central hub 300 may be disposed at the central portion of the body 108 and configured to receive the sensors 110, the imaging device 112, the motor 114, and the communication interface 116.
The arms 302 may be attached at peripheral ends of the centre hub 300 of the body 108. The pair of landing gears 304 may be attached at the lower portion of the centre hub 300 of the body 108. The connectors 306 may be coupled between the pair landing gears 304 and the payload assembly 308. The connectors 306 may help the payload assembly 308 to receive minimum vibrations and/or to accommodate heavy payload i.e., more quantity of the seeds and/or the seed balls.
FIGs. 4A and 4B illustrate the front view and the bottom view of the payload assembly 308, respectively in accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure. The payload assembly 308 may include a hopper 400, a plurality of holes 404a-404c, and at least one vibrator motor 402. The hopper 400 may be configured to store the seeds and/or the seed balls that needs to be dropped in the land terrains. The hopper 400 may be made up of plurality of plates 400a-400n that are coupled to each other. The plurality of plates may be composed of high-grade, lightweight, and high-strength thermoplastics such that the high-grade, lightweight, and high-strength thermoplastics may facilitate in accommodating more payload due to lower density.
In some aspects, the plurality of plates 400a-400n may be adapted to be joined together in a modular and aerodynamic design by way of push-fit mechanism for forming the hopper 400. In some aspects, of the present disclosure, the hopper 400 may include a flexible and a modular configuration to accommodate the seeds and/or the seed balls of different shapes and sizes to avoid congestion and jamming of the seeds and/or the seed balls dropping/deploying portion of the hopper 400.
The at least one vibrator motor 402 may be disposed on a plate of the plurality of plates 400a-400n at an outer side of the hopper 400. As illustrated in FIGs. 4A and 4B, the at least one motor 402 may include a pair of vibrator motors 402a and 402b. The pair of vibrator motors 402a and 402b may be configured to vibrate the hopper 400 to discharge dust accumulated at the bottom of the hopper 400 by way of the plurality of perforations 406a-406n.
The plurality of holes 404a-404c may be disposed at the bottom of the hopper 400 for deploying and/or dropping the seeds and/or the seed balls.
FIG. 5 illustrates a dropping mechanism 500, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. The dropping mechanism may include a wheel 502 having a plurality of openings 504a-504c that may be configured to drop the seeds and/or the seed balls stored in the hopper 400. At the time of filling the seeds and/or the seed balls in the hopper 400, the plurality of openings 504a-504c of the wheel 502 may not be aligned with the plurality of holes 404a-404c thereby allow the seeds and/or the seed balls to be stored within the hopper 400. Further, at the time of deploying and/or dropping the seeds and/or the seed balls, the plurality of openings 504a-504c of the wheel 502 may be aligned with the plurality of holes 404a-404c thereby facilitating dropping and/or deploying of the seeds and/or the seed balls. The alignment of the plurality of openings 504a-504c of the wheel 502 with the plurality of holes 404a-404c may be attained by way of rotation of the wheel 502 via the motor 114 such that the wheel 502 is coupled to the motor 114.
FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart of a method 600 for deploying the seeds and/or the seed balls via the UAV 102, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. The method 600 may utilizes the system 100 described earlier and incorporates its various components.
At step 602, the method 600 may include receiving, by the processing circuitry 106, one or more images captured by the imaging device 112 of the UAV 102. The imaging device 112 may include, but is not limited to, a digital camera, a thermal camera, or a lidar, a red green blue (RGB) camera, a multispectral camera or the like. The imaging device 112 may be configured to capture real-time footage of the land terrains over which the UAV 102 may fly.
At step 604, the method 600 may include receiving, by the processing circuitry 106, a plurality of sensor data from the plurality of sensors 110 disposed on the UAV 102. The sensors 110 may include proximity sensors, weight sensors, moisture sensors, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, wind speed sensors, Normalized Difference Red Edge (NDRE) sensors, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) sensors, Global Positioning System (GPS), Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors, multi-spectral cameras, thermal cameras, and obstacle avoidance and terrain radars.
At step 606, the method 600 may include processing, by the processing circuitry 106, the received images and sensor data. This processing involves various operations performed by different engines within the processing circuitry 106:
- organizing the collected data using a data collection engine (200);
- analyzing the sensor data to detect blockages in a hopper (400) using a blockage determining engine (202);
- assessing soil health and crop growth using a soil and crop health analyzing engine (204);
- interpreting weather condition data using a weather condition analyzing engine (206);
- monitoring levels of the seeds and/or the seed balls in the hopper (400) using a level determining engine (208);
- determining the UAV's location and mapping terrain using a navigation and mapping engine (212).
At step 608, based on the processed data, the method 600 may include operating the dropping mechanism 500 to facilitate dropping of the seeds and/or the seed balls. In some aspects, at step 608, the data processing engine 210 may sends commands to the motor 114, which rotates the wheel 502 of the dropping mechanism 500. The rotation aligns the openings 504a-504c of the wheel 502 with the holes 404a-404c at the bottom of the hopper 400, allowing the seeds and/or seed balls to be deployed/dropped in a controlled manner.
Further, at step 608, during the seed deployment process, if the blockage determining engine 202 may detect any congestion in the hopper 400, the blockage determining engine 202 may transfer a signal to the data processing engine 210 that corresponds to the blockage and/or congestion in the hopper 400. In response, the data processing engine 210 may activate the vibrator motors 402a and 402b to vibrate the hopper 400, and/or operate the motor 114 to move a rod for clearing the congestion.
At step 610, the method 600 may include the step of geotagging the paths followed by the UAV 102 during dropping/deploying of the seeds and/or the seed balls by way of the navigation and mapping engine 212, storing this data in the database 118 for future monitoring of seed growth and afforestation progress. Further, the method 600 may include the step of continuously updating the UAV's position and flight path by way of the navigation and mapping engine 212 throughout the operation of the UAV 102.
In some aspects, the method 600 may further include the step of continuously updating the user device of the user with relevant information about the deployment process of the seeds and/or the seed balls, including blockage alerts, levels of the seeds and/or the seed balls, soil conditions, and flight path data, by way of the display engine 214.
By integrating real-time image processing, comprehensive sensor data analysis, and precise mechanical control, the method 600 enables efficient, large-scale deployment of the seeds and/or the seed balls in various terrains, including areas that may be difficult to access by traditional means. This method significantly enhances the capabilities of aerial afforestation efforts, providing a sophisticated approach to environmental restoration and forest management.
Thus, the system 100, the UAV 102, and method 600 provides several technical advantages. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) 102 enables precise deployment of the seeds and/or the seed balls by utilizing real-time image processing and sensor data to analyze terrain conditions and optimize seeding locations. The modular hopper design with vibration mechanisms prevents blockages by the seeds and/or the seed balls and allows for efficient dispersal of different types and sizes of the seeds and/or the seed balls. The geotagging capability facilitates periodic monitoring of planted areas, providing traceability from seed to tree growth. The integration of advanced sensors like NDRE and NDVI allows for comprehensive analysis of soil health, crop growth, and plant vitality. The refilling and return-to-base features, coupled with blockage detection alerts, significantly enhance operational efficiency and reduce downtime. Additionally, the UAV's ability to access and seed difficult terrains like hilly areas and wildfire-affected regions expands the scope of reforestation efforts beyond what is feasible with manual planting techniques.
Aspects of the present disclosure are discussed here with reference to flowchart illustrations and block diagrams that depict methods, systems, and computer program products in accordance with various aspects. Each block within these flowcharts and diagrams, as well as combinations of these blocks, can be executed by computer-readable program instructions. The various logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in connection with the disclosed aspects may be implemented through electronic hardware, software, or a combination of both. To emphasize the interchangeability of hardware and software, the various components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps are described generally in terms of their functionality. The decision to implement such functionality in hardware or software is dependent on the specific application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Professionals skilled in the art can implement the described functionality in different ways depending on the particular application, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
The flowcharts and block diagrams presented in the figures depict the architecture, functionality, and operation of potential implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to different aspects of the present disclosure. Each block in the flowcharts or diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions comprising one or more executable instructions to perform the specified logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the order of functions within the blocks may differ from what is depicted. For instance, two blocks shown in sequence may be executed concurrently or in reverse order, depending on the required functionality. Each block, and combinations of blocks, can also be implemented using special-purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or tasks, or through a combination of specialized hardware and software instructions.
Although the preferred aspects have been detailed here, it should be apparent to those skilled in the relevant field that various modifications, additions, and substitutions can be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. These variations are thus considered to be within the scope of the disclosure as defined in the following claims.
Features or functionalities described in certain example aspects may be combined and re-combined in or with other example aspects. Additionally, different aspects and elements of the disclosed example aspects may be similarly combined and re-combined. Further, some example aspects, individually or collectively, may form components of a larger system where other processes may take precedence or modify their application. Moreover, certain steps may be required before, after, or concurrently with the example aspects disclosed herein. It should be noted that any and all methods and processes disclosed herein can be performed in whole or in part by one or more entities or actors in any manner.
The terminology used herein may imply direct or indirect, full or partial, temporary or permanent, action or inaction. For example, when one element is described as being "on," "connected to," or "coupled with" another element, it may be directly on, connected to, or coupled with the other element, with or without intervening elements, including both direct and indirect variants. Conversely, when an element is described as being "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another element, there are no intervening elements present.
Although terms like "first," "second," etc., are used to describe various elements, components, regions, layers, and sections, these terms should not necessarily be interpreted as limiting. They are used solely to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, or section from another. For example, a "first" element discussed here could be referred to as a "second" element without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure.
The terminology used here is intended to describe specific example aspects and should not be considered as limiting the disclosure. The singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms "comprises," "includes," "comprising," and "including," as used herein, indicate the presence of stated features, steps, elements, or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of other features, steps, elements, or components.
As used herein, the term "or" is intended to be inclusive, meaning that "X employs A or B" would be satisfied by X employing A, B, or both A and B. Unless specified otherwise or clearly understood from the context, this inclusive meaning applies to the term "or."
Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the relevant art. Terms should be interpreted consistently with their common usage in the context of the relevant art and should not be construed in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly defined here.
The terms "about" and "substantially," as used herein, refer to a variation of plus or minus 10% from the nominal value. This variation is always included in any given measure.
In cases where other disclosures are incorporated by reference and there is a conflict with the present disclosure, the present disclosure takes precedence to the extent of the conflict, or to provide a broader disclosure or definition of terms. If two disclosures conflict, the later-dated disclosure will take precedence.
The use of examples or exemplary language (such as "for example") is intended to illustrate aspects of the invention and should not be seen as limiting the scope unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be interpreted as implying that any non-claimed element is essential to the practice of the invention.
While many alterations and modifications of the present invention will likely become apparent to those skilled in the art after reading this description, the specific aspects shown and described by way of illustration are not intended to be limiting in any way.
A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims. ,CLAIMS:1. A method (600) for deploying a plurality of one of seeds, seed balls, or a combination thereof via an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) (102), the method (600) comprising:
receiving (602), by processing circuitry (106), one or more images captured by an imaging device (112) of the UAV (102);
receiving (604), by the processing circuitry (106), a plurality of sensor data corresponding to a plurality of parameters from a plurality of sensors (110) disposed on the UAV (102);
processing (606), by the processing circuitry (106), the received images and the plurality of sensor data;
operating (608), by the processing circuitry (106), a dropping mechanism (500) based on the processed data for dropping the plurality of one of the seeds, the seedballs, or the combination thereof wherein the dropping mechanism (500) comprises a wheel (502) having a plurality of openings (504a-504c) that are configured to align with a plurality of holes (404a-404c) of a hopper (400); and
geotagging (610), by the processing circuitry (106), paths followed by the UAV (102) while dropping the plurality of one of seeds, seedballs or the combination thereof.

2. The method (600) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors (110) comprise one of: weight sensors, moisture sensors, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, wind speed sensors, Normalized Difference Red Edge (NDRE) sensors, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) sensors, Global Positioning System (GPS) sensors, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) sensors, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors, multi-spectral cameras, thermal cameras, and obstacle avoidance radars, or a combination thereof.

3. The method (600) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
detecting, by the processing circuitry (106), a blockage in the hopper (400); and
activating, by the processing circuitry (106), in response to detecting the blockage, at least one vibrator motor (402) to vibrate the hopper (400) and clear the blockage.

4. The method (600) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
determining, by the processing circuitry (106), a level of the plurality of, one of the seeds, the seedballs, or the combination thereof, in the hopper (400); and
initiating, by the processing circuitry (106), a return-to-base sequence to refill the hopper (400) when the level of the plurality of, one of the seeds, the seedballs, or the combination thereof, falls below a predetermined threshold.

5. The method (600) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
analyzing, by the processing circuitry (106), soil health and crop growth based on the processed images and the plurality of sensor data.

6. A system (100) for deploying a plurality of, one of seeds, seedballs, or a combination thereof, via an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) (102), the system comprising:
an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) (102) for deploying the plurality of, one of the seeds, the seedballs, or the combination thereof, the UAV (102) comprising:
a motor (114);
a payload assembly (308) coupled to the motor (114), the payload assembly (308) comprising:
a hopper (400) configured to store the plurality of, one of the seeds, the seedballs, or the combination thereof;
a plurality of holes (404a-404c) disposed at a bottom of the hopper (400);
a dropping mechanism (500) disposed on the hopper (400), the dropping mechanism (500) comprising a wheel (502) with a plurality of openings (504a-504c) that are configured to align with the plurality of holes (404a-404c) by way of the motor (114); and
at least one vibrator motor (402) disposed on the hopper (400);
an imaging device (112) configured to capture one or more images;
a plurality of sensors (110) configured to sense a plurality of sensor data corresponding to a plurality of parameters; and
processing circuitry (106) configured to:
receive the one or more images and the plurality of sensor data;
process the one or more images and the plurality of sensor data;
operate the motor (114) to rotate the wheel (502) based on the processed data and align the plurality of openings (504a-504c) with a plurality of holes (404a-404c) of the hopper (400) to drop the plurality of, one of the seeds, the seedballs, or the combination thereof; and
geotag paths followed by the UAV (102) while dropping the plurality of, one of the seeds, the seedballs, or the combination thereof.

7. The system (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the plurality of sensors (110) comprise one of: weight sensors, moisture sensors, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, wind speed sensors, Normalized Difference Red Edge (NDRE) sensors, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) sensors, Global Positioning System (GPS) sensors, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) sensors, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors, multi-spectral cameras, thermal cameras, obstacle avoidance radars, or a combination thereof.

8. The system (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the processing circuitry (106) is further configured to:
detect a blockage in the hopper (400), and
activate the at least one vibrator motor (402) to vibrate the hopper (400) and clear the blockage.

9. The system (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the processing circuitry (106) is further configured to:
determine the level of the plurality of, one of the seeds, the seedballs, or the combination thereof, in the hopper (400), and
initiate a return-to-base sequence to refill the hopper (400) when the level of the plurality of, one of the seeds, the seedballs, or the combination thereof, falls below a predetermined threshold.

10. The system (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the processing circuitry (106) is further configured to:
analyze soil health and crop growth based on the processed images and the plurality of sensor data.

11. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) (102) for deploying a plurality of, one of seeds, seedballs, or a combination thereof, the UAV comprising:
a motor (114).
a body (108) comprising.
a payload assembly (308) coupled to the motor (114), the payload assembly (308) comprising:
a hopper (400) configured to store the plurality of, one of the seeds, the seedballs, or the combination thereof.
a plurality of holes (404a-404c) disposed at the bottom of the hopper (400),
a dropping mechanism (500) disposed of on the hopper (400), the dropping mechanism (500) comprising a wheel (502) with a plurality of openings (504a-504c) that are configured to align with the plurality of holes (404a-404c) by way of the motor (114), and
at least one vibrator motor (402) disposed on the hopper (400);
an imaging device (112) configured to capture one or more images;
a plurality of sensors (110) configured to sense a plurality of sensor data corresponding to a plurality of parameters; and
processing circuitry (106) configured to:
receive the one or more images and the plurality of sensor data,
process the received images and the plurality of sensor data,
operate the motor (114) to rotate the wheel (502) based on the processed data and align the plurality of openings (504a-504c) with a plurality of holes (404a-404c) of the hopper (400) to drop the plurality of, one of the seeds, the seedballs, or the combination thereof, and
geotag paths followed by the UAV (102) while dropping the plurality of, one of the seeds, the seedballs, or the combination thereof.

12. The UAV (102) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the body (108) further comprising:
A central hub (300);
a plurality of arms (302) attached to the central hub (300);
a pair of landing gears (304) attached to a lower portion of the central hub (300);

13. The UAV (102) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the plurality of sensors (110) comprise one of: weight sensors, moisture sensors, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, wind speed sensors, Normalized Difference Red Edge (NDRE) sensors, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) sensors, Global Positioning System (GPS) sensors, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) sensors, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors, multi-spectral cameras, thermal cameras, obstacle avoidance radars, or a combination thereof.
14. The UAV (102) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the processing circuitry (106) is further configured to:
detect a blockage in the hopper (400), and
activate the at least one vibrator motor (402) to vibrate the hopper (400) and clear the blockage.

15. The UAV (102) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the processing circuitry (106) is further configured to:
determine a level of the plurality of, one of the seeds, the seedballs, or the combination thereof, in the hopper (400), and
initiate a return-to-base sequence to refill the hopper (400) when the level of the plurality of, one of the seeds, the seedballs, or the combination thereof, falls below a predetermined threshold.

16. The UAV (102) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the processing circuitry (106) is further configured to:
analyze soil health and crop growth based on the processed images and the plurality of sensor data.