US 12,145,728 B2
Aerial vehicle
Malcolm Faers, Düsseldorf (DE); and Andrew Charles Chapple, Langenfeld (DE)
Assigned to BAYER AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, Leverkusen (DE)
Appl. No. 17/765,700
Filed by BAYER AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, Leverkusen (DE)
PCT Filed Oct. 2, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/077621
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 31, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/069316, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 15, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 19202441 (EP), filed on Oct. 10, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0340277 A1, Oct. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. B64D 1/18 (2006.01); A01M 7/00 (2006.01); B64D 47/00 (2006.01); B64U 10/00 (2023.01); B64U 101/30 (2023.01); B64U 101/40 (2023.01); B64U 101/45 (2023.01); G05D 1/00 (2024.01)
CPC B64D 1/18 (2013.01) [A01M 7/0042 (2013.01); A01M 7/0089 (2013.01); B64D 47/00 (2013.01); G05D 1/0094 (2013.01); G05D 1/101 (2013.01); B64U 10/00 (2023.01); B64U 2101/30 (2023.01); B64U 2101/40 (2023.01); B64U 2101/45 (2023.01); B64U 2201/00 (2023.01); B64U 2201/10 (2023.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An aerial vehicle, comprising:
a liquid chemical tank;
at least one liquid spray unit;
at least one actuator;
a plurality of sensors; and
a processing unit;
wherein, the liquid chemical tank is configured to hold a liquid chemical;
wherein, the at least one liquid spray unit is configured to spray the liquid chemical;
wherein, the at least one actuator is configured to operate the at least one liquid spray unit;
wherein, at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors is configured to measure a speed of the aerial vehicle relative to the ground;
wherein, at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors is a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor configured to measure the distance, direction and speed of airborne particles relative to the aerial vehicle with respect to a fore-aft axis of the aerial vehicle;
wherein, the processing unit is configured to receive and analyse the sensor data from the plurality of sensors to determine an air movement direction and distance relative to a projection of the fore-aft axis onto the ground and to determine an air movement speed relative to the ground, the determination comprising utilisation of the speed of the aerial vehicle, the direction and distance of airborne particles relative to the aerial vehicle with respect to the fore-aft axis of the aerial vehicle and the speed of airborne particles relative to the aerial vehicle; and
wherein, the processing unit is configured to control at least one flying operation of the aerial vehicle and/or control the at least one actuator, wherein determination of at least one instruction for the control of the at least one flying operation of the aerial vehicle and/or determination of at least one instruction for the control the at least one actuator comprises utilisation of the determined air movement direction and distance relative to the projection of the fore-aft axis onto the ground and the determined air movement speed relative to the ground.