UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE LIQUID TRANSPORT, METHOD AND SYSTEM USING SAME
Patent Number: US 10717529 Grant Date: 2020-07-21 Filing Date: 2017-10-30
Overview
This patent describes an integrated autonomous liquid‑delivery system that equips unmanned aerial vehicles to pick up, transport and dispense feed and medicaments to beehive‑mounted recipient stations. Filed on October 30, 2017 and granted on July 21, 2020, the disclosure—by inventors based in Carmel Valley, CA and assigned to an entity in Cedar Park, TX—combines mechanical payload tanks and nozzles, electrical charging and data interfaces, and software controllers and schedulers to enable multi‑stop, precision deliveries without human intervention. The architecture includes a base station that mixes and meters customized payloads, UAV payload assemblies with docking seals and charging adapters, visual and GPS guidance for fine docking, and hive top feeders with level sensing and optional automated flushing for hygiene and accurate dosing. Our firm’s patent drafting highlights claim scope across hardware, control logic and docking interfaces to protect a practical, field‑deployable solution that reduces labor and improves hive health management.
Key Features
- Autonomous UAV pickup and multi‑hive delivery with GPS and vision‑based docking
- Integrated nozzle/charging adapter for simultaneous payload transfer and battery recharge
- Base‑station feed mixing and scheduler for individualized dosing and medicated payloads
- Hive top feeder with level sensing, automated drain/flush and wireless telemetry
- Architecture supports scalable fleet operations and detailed logging for predictive maintenance
This innovation advances precision agritech and autonomous logistics for pollinator health, and has broader applicability to remote liquid‑resupply and targeted delivery markets.
Invention Details
Abstract: A method for transporting liquid with a UAV transport that includes docking the UAV transport with a first station and supplying the UAV transport with liquid from the first station. The UAV transport undocks from the first station and flies to the vicinity of a second station. The UAV transport docks with the second station and delivers at least a portion of the liquid to the second station. A UAV for use therewith and a method for maintaining a feed tray at the second station are provided.
Background: CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION (1) This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/414,394 filed Oct. 28, 2016, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by this reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION (1) The present invention relates to a delivery system and method and, more particularly, to a method and system for delivering liquids to bee hives. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (2) The complexity of keeping honeybees is increasing and the economic viability of honeybee cultivation is threatened. The 2014-2015 honeybee report released by the USDA in May of 2015 estimates that 42% of all registered honeybee hives kept in the United States do not survive a year. Sustainable loss rates are predicted in the 15-18% range. The causes of many of these losses are unknown. Hive loss represents a significant factor in the economics of beekeeping in the United States. In light of the foregoing, the honeybee industry, necessary for pollination and honey production, is at significant risk. (3) While the loss rates dip into the industry accepted range of sustainability, the increase in effort required to achieve these rates is significant. There are two components to the cost increases, increase in labor and increase in material. The distribution of feed and medications for the control of hive disease and nutritional management is a significant resource investment for beekeepers seeking to reduce hive losses. (4) What may be needed is new systems and methods for the distribution of feed and medications to bee hives. If the foregoing costs could be managed through such a new system and method, it may be possible to reap the promised sustainability from the reduced hive loss numbers.
Patent Document
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