[0001] The embodiments herein generally relate to an apparatus for cutting
anything hanging off the tree without climbing on the trees. Specifically, the embodiments described herein relate to a drone-aircraft, which is incorporated with a camera and a laser cutting tool for harvesting coconuts or cutting an object remotely besides climbing the tree.
Description of the Related Art
[0002] In tropical countries, coconut production plays a key role in improving the
economy of the nation because of its domestic, commercial and industrial uses. The rate of coconut production significantly increased every year according to the rise in demand. Hence in most of the eatables the main ingredient is the coconut and moreover the kernel is used for making oil and the hard shell is used for making charcoal. Furthermore the coconut husk is used in a coir industry for developing various products such as mattresses, coir brick for plantation, handicrafts and so on.
[0003] Generally, human recourses are utilized to climb the coconut trees for
harvesting the coconuts. But, there is a major risk in climbing the tree due to the tallest cylindrical structure and possibilities for presence of poisonous insects on top of the tree. Traditionally coconut plucking was carried out by specific well trained people who had less opportunity for education and economy. Due to increase in literacy rate the

availability of the human resource for the coconut harvesting is depreciated yearly. Hence, the coconut harvesting becomes a challenging deal for an agricultural industry to fulfill the demand. Furthermore, the ratio of coconut trees and persons climbing up the trees is in large variation, and this creates increase in demand for coconuts with a decreasing percentage of manual cutters.
[0004] In prior arts, attempts have been made to aid coconut tree climbing and
harvesting machines which can allow the person to use and carry the machine to climb on the coconut trees. However, the existing coconut climbing machine suffers from unavailability of human resource to climb on the tree using such machines and further semi or fully automated machines are also not aid the harvester for certain tree trunk structures.
[0005] To solve the problem associated with the known coconut climbing
machines, remote controlled coconut harvesting machines have been developed.These machines are provided with a long retractable arm, which has a cutting device at one end and a twisting device at the other end. Though this machine can be connected to the coconut tree and detached from the coconut tree easily, it also suffers from many drawbacks. A main drawback is that all the parts are made from mechanical joints as well as pneumatic actuators to make the movements, thus it makes it cumbersome as well as reduces the lifetime of the machine. Further, it has been observed that such machines have less accuracy for the arm positioning in order to cut the coconuts. Furthermore in certain type of uneven tree trunks someone has to climb the tree to detach or alter the position of the machine if it struck in between the tree trunk.

[0006] Therefore, there exists a need in the prior art to build a safe, wireless and
eco-friendly machine which should not only outwit the drawbacks associated with the prior art machines, but also provides a flexible, rapid, and selective harvesting of ripened coconut without climbing the tree at all. Further, it should provide a simple mechanism which can be controlled remotely besides climbing on the tree and cut the coconuts and other parts of coconuts trees.
Objects of the invention
[0007] Some of the objects of the present disclosure are described herein below:
[0008] A main object of the present invention is to provide a drone aircraft for
harvesting coconuts without climbing the tree using laser cutting mechanism.
[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a drone aircraft for
harvesting coconuts without climbing on to the coconut tree, to evaluate the ripen status of the coconut using a laser cutting mechanism.
[00010] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a drone aircraft for harvesting coconuts selectively by means of live relaying to the remote ground station using a wireless camera which is incorporated in the machine unit. [00011] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a drone aircraft for harvesting coconuts selectively by evaluating the ripen coconut using the wireless camera without climbing on to the coconut tree.
[00012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a drone aircraft for harvesting coconuts safely and rapidly without climbing on to the coconut tree. [00013] The other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying

drawings which are incorporated for illustration of preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope thereof.
SUMMARY
[00014] In view of the foregoing, an embodiment herein provides a drone aircraft
system for cutting anything hanging off of a tree without climbing a tree. More specifically the embodiment herein provides an exemplary drone aircraft system for cutting an object without climbing the tree. The object may include but is not limited to fruits, vegetables, branches of a tree and so on. The drone aircraft system includes a machine unit and a ground station unit. The machine unit comprising: an aircraft engine unit, propellers, a propeller controller, a battery or power regulating unit, a wireless camera with GPS, a transceiver and a laser cutting module. The aircraft engine transfers the mechanical energy to the propellers to rotate and the propeller controller is used to control the activation and orientation of the movement of the drone aircraft. The battery or power regulating unit supplies and regulates the power required for the operation of the Drone aircraft. The laser cutting module comprises of a laser gun and laser gun controller. The laser gun is a source of laser and a laser gun controller generates the control signal to activate the release of laser light whenever it is required. The wireless camera with GPS facility captures the live video of the object and transfers the video to the ground station using a transceiver.
[00015] According to an embodiment, the machine unit is controlled from the
ground station. The camera captures video in the vicinity of cutter, and transmits the video to the ground station for displaying to the operator, and based on the video, the

operator at ground station can command/operate the machine unit and perfectly position the laser cutter to cut the object.
[00016] According to an embodiment, a system for drone aircraft machine is
provided to cut an object without climbing on the tree. Wherein the system comprising: a
machine unit comprising: an aircraft engine unit, propellers, a propeller controller, a
battery or power regulating unit, a wireless camera with GPS, a transceiver and a laser
cutting module comprising: a laser gun and a laser controller. A wireless transmission
module to transmit and receive control signals effectively from the ground station to
machine unit. A processing unit for programming the necessary features of the machine
unit to enhance the operation in a better and faster way and controlling actuators in the
robotic arm unit to support an operator. A display/monitor unit with a transceiver
provides a live relay of the video captured by the wireless camera incorporated in the
machine unit. With the video output, the position of the object can be viewed by the
operator to take decision on selective cutting of the object according to the status.
[00017] These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better
appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

[00018] The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying
figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in
which the reference number first appears. The use of the same reference numbers in
different figures indicates similar or identical items.
[00019] Fig. 1. illustrates a schematic diagram of a coconut harvesting by a Drone
aircraft machine without climbing on the tree , in accordance with an example
embodiment herein;
[00020] Fig. 2 illustrates a block diagram for architecture of a Drone aircraft
machine for harvesting coconuts without climbing on the tree in accordance with an
example embodiment herein;
[00021] Fig. 3 illustrates a sample network environment of a ground station in order
to operate the Drone aircraft machine remotely for harvesting coconuts in accordance
with an example embodiment herein; and
[00022] Fig. 4 illustrates a block diagram of a system for drone aircraft machine to
harvest coconuts without climbing on the tree in accordance with an example
embodiment herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [00023] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein

may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[00024] As mentioned above there is a need to provide a Drone aircraft machine for harvesting an object without climbing on the tree. The embodiments herein achieve this by providing a Drone aircraft machine having a camera and laser cutting mechanism which can assist an operator to selectively identify the ripen coconut and cut the ripen coconut rapidly, without climbing on the tree. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 4, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown preferred embodiments.
[00025] It is to be noted that even though the description of the invention has been explained for a coconut tree, it should, in no manner, be construed to limit the scope of the invention. The drone aircraft machine of the invention can be used with any trees including palm tree, areca nut tree, mango tree, and any tree that needs a selective harvesting without climbing on to the tree at all. Further, the drone aircraft machine can also be used for pruning dead branches and spraying pesticide on trees. [00026] In accordance with an embodiment, the Drone aircraft machine may include a machine unit and a ground station, wherein the machine unit comprises of at least one aircraft engine unit, at least one battery/power regulating circuit, plurality of propellers, at least one propeller controller, a transceiver and a wireless camera with a global positioning system to capture the objects near to the machine. Further the machine unit

also includes a laser cutting module which comprises of a laser gun as laser source to cut the coconut and a laser gun controller.
[00027] According to an embodiment, the machine unit is controlled from the ground station. The camera captures video in the vicinity of cutter, and transmits the video to the ground station for displaying to the operator, and based on the video, the operator at ground station can command/operate the machine unit and perfectly position the laser cutter to cut the coconut.
[00028] Figure 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a coconut harvesting 100 by Drone aircraft machine without climbing on the tree, according to an embodiment. The Drone aircraft machine 102 includes machine unit and ground station to harvest coconuts from the coconut tree 101 by the operator 103 at the ground station. [00029] Figure 2 illustrates a block diagram for architecture of a Drone aircraft machine 200 for harvesting coconuts without climbing on the tree in accordance with an example embodiment. In an embodiment, the machine unit 201 comprises an aircraft engine unit 202, a propeller controller 203, a laser cutting module 204, a battery or power regulating unit 205, a wireless camera with GPS 206 and a transceiver 207. The aircraft engine 202 includes an electric motor which aids the propeller to rotate. Then the propeller controller 203 controls the activation and orientation of the movement. The battery or power regulating unit 205 supplies and regulates the power required for the operation of the Drone aircraft. The laser cutting module 204 comprises of a laser gun 204a and laser gun controller 204b. Wherein the laser gun is a source of laser and a laser gun controller generates the control signal to activate the release of laser light whenever it is required. The wireless camera with GPS 206 facility captures the live video of the

object and transfers the video to the ground station using a transceiver in the Drone aircraft.
[00030] Figure 3 illustrates a sample network environment of a ground station 300 in order to operate the Drone aircraft machine remotely for harvesting coconuts in accordance with an example embodiment. The ground station 301 can include a power management module 302, a display unit 304, a laser cutting controller module 307 and a wireless module 308. The power management module 302 is provided to manage the power for the entire machine. In an example, a power supply 302 can be from the 23Ov A/C mains or via a battery 302a.
[00031] In an embodiment, the wireless camera with GPS 206 can include a transceiver in order to send the video and position of the coconuts to the ground station 300. The display unit 304 comprises of a transceiver 305 and an operator camera output 306. The transceiver 305 in the display 304 can receive the details of the captured video at the ground station 301. The operator camera output 306 is a relay camera which provides the view of the wireless camera at the machine unit 201 to the operator in the ground station. By means of the live relay of video on the display 304 unit, the operator 103 can easily operate the machine unit 201 from the ground station 301. Further it aids the operator to guide the machine unit 201 to move to the desired position and trigger the laser cutting mechanism. The machine unit 201 can be operable remotely. [00032] In an embodiment, the laser cutting controller module 307 comprises a microcontroller to selectively activate the laser gun according to the requirement by generating a control signal. While activating the laser gun, the intensity of the laser light

can be varied according to the depth of cutting radius. Further the duration of the application of the laser light can also decided by means of the control signal. [00033] In an embodiment, the wireless transmission module 308 comprises a transceiver to transmit and receive control signal from the operator to the machine unit to perform cutting the coconuts. The wireless technology in the wireless transmission module 308 can include but not limited to Bluetooth, Zigbee or any other wireless technologies. The wireless transmission module 308 assists the operator by an effective communication between the ground station 301 and the machine unit 201 by enhancing the remote functionality of the machine unit 201.
[00034] Figure 4 illustrates a block diagram of a system for drone aircraft machine 400 is provided to harvest coconuts without climbing on the tree in accordance with an example embodiment. The system comprises of a machine unit 201, a wireless transmission module 308, a processing unit 405 and a display/monitor unit 304 with transceiver 305. The machine unit 201 can include a wireless camera with GPS facility 206 which transmits the video of the coconuts by the transceiver 207 to the operator 103 via the transceiver 305 at the ground station. The video signals that are received are displayed using the display 304 which is provided at the ground station 301. With the video signals that are live relayed, the operator 103 can guide the machine unit to move towards the required position of the coconut trees and also use the laser cutter module 204 to chop the coconuts perfectly.
[00035] In an embodiment, the wireless transmission module 308 can enable for linking between the machine unit 201 and the operator 103 at the ground station 301. The wireless transmission module 308 can collect the visual and analog data simultaneously

from both the machine unit 201 and operator 103 at the ground station 301 to set up a transfer of communication between both ends. Thus the support of the wireless transmission module 308 can carry out the process of Drone aircraft machine for harvesting coconuts rapidly without climbing over the tree.
[00036] In an embodiment, the processing unit 405 is provided in the system to program the necessary features of the machine unit 201 to improvise the process rapidly and effectively. Accordingly, the processing unit 302 renders a support to the operator at the ground station by controlling the propellers as well as the laser gun for harvesting coconuts without climbing the coconut tree.
[00037] In an embodiment, the display/ monitor 304 can include a transceiver 305 to acquire the video live relay of the coconuts received from the transceiver 207 of the machine unit 201. With the display output, the operator 103 can view the position of the coconuts and the operator can decide to chop the coconut selectively according to the maturity of the coconut.
[00038] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal
the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications. Such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments

herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is Claimed is:
1. A Drone aircraft machine for cutting an object hanging off of a tree by an
operator remotely without climbing on the tree comprises,
at least one ground station and a machine unit;
wherein the machine unit controlled from the ground station by the operator;
wherein the machine unit comprises at least one aircraft engine unit;
at least one battery/power regulating circuit;
plurality of propellers;
at least one propeller controller;
a transceiver; and
a wireless camera with a global positioning system (GPS).
2. The Drone aircraft machine of claim 1, wherein the machine unit further comprises of a laser cutting module comprises of a laser gun and a laser gun controller; wherein the laser gun controller generates the control signal to activate a release of laser light whenever required.
3. The Drone aircraft machine of claim 1, wherein the aircraft engine unit includes an electric motor which aids the propeller to rotate.
4. The Drone aircraft machine of claim 1, wherein the propeller controller controls the activation and orientation of the movement of the machine.
5. The Drone aircraft machine of claim 1, wherein the battery or power regulating unit supplies and regulates the power required for the operation of the Drone aircraft machine.

6. The Drone aircraft machine of claim 1, wherein the wireless camera with GPS captures the live video of the object and transfers the video to the ground station using a transceiver in the Drone aircraft.
7. The Drone aircraft machine of claim 1, wherein the ground station comprises of a power management module, a display unit, a laser cutting controller module and a wireless module; and
wherein the power management module provided to manage the power for the entire machine.
8. The Drone aircraft machine of claim 7, wherein the display unit comprises of a
transceiver and an operator camera output;
wherein the transceiver receives a captured video at the ground station;
wherein the operator camera output provides a live relay of video of the wireless
camera at the machine unit to the operator in the ground station; and
wherein the live relay of video aids the operator to guide the machine unit to
move to the desired position and trigger the laser cutting controller.
9. The Drone aircraft machine of claim 7, wherein the laser cutting controller module comprises a microcontroller to selectively activate the laser gun according to the requirement by generating a control signal; wherein the activation of laser gun performed by varying intensity of the laser light according to depth of the object cutting radius.
10. The Drone aircraft machine of claim 7, wherein the wireless module comprises a transceiver to transmit and receive control signal from the operator to the machine unit to perform cutting the object.

11. A system for drone aircraft machine to cut an object hanging-off a tree without
climbing the tree comprises,
a machine unit, a wireless transmission module, a processing unit and a
display/monitor unit with transceiver;
wherein the machine unit comprises of a wireless camera with GPS facility for
transmitting a video of the object by the transceiver and a laser cutting module;
wherein the wireless transmission module enables the linking between the
machine unit and the ground station;
wherein the processing unit enables the operator to program the necessary
features of the machine unit to improvise the cutting process rapidly and
effectively;
wherein the display unit with transceiver display the video signals of the object;
and
wherein the video signals guide the operator to move the machine unit towards
the object and to cut the object using laser cutting module.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the wireless transmission module collect the visual and analog data simultaneously from both the machine unit and the operator at the ground station to set up a transfer of communication between both ends.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein the processing unit renders a support to the operator at the ground station by controlling the propellers as well as the laser gun.

4. The Drone aircraft machine of claim 11, wherein the laser cutting module comprises a microcontroller to selectively activate the laser gun according to the requirement by generating a control signal; wherein the activation of laser gun performed by varying intensity of the laser light according to depth of the object cutting radius.