Abstract

An apparatus for controlling weeds, which includes a tine formation adapted to remove or disrupt targeted weeds, and a tine support assembly adapted to support the tine for movement about a first control axis in a generally vertical direction between an engaged position wherein the tine formation in use contacts a ground surface for removal or disruption of targeted weeds and a disengaged position wherein the tine formation is substantially retracted from the ground surface. The tine support assembly is further adapted to support the tine for movement about a second control axis in a generally horizontal direction. The tine support assembly further includes a first actuation mechanism adapted to effect movement of the tine about the first control axis, and a second actuation mechanism adapted to effect movement of the tine about the second control axis. The apparatus also includes a sensing system for sensing aspects of an environment and generating data indicative thereof, and a classification system for identifying target weeds within the environment on the basis of the data from the sensing system. A control system is adapted to activate the first and second actuation mechanisms of the tine support assembly in accordance with a predetermined control logic thereby sequentially to position the tine for disruptive contact with the targeted weeds.

IPC Classes  ?

• A01B 39/18 - Other machines specially adapted for working soil on which crops are growing for special purposes for weeding
• A01B 79/00 - Methods for working soil
• A01M 21/04 - Apparatus for destruction by steam, chemicals, burning, or electricity
• A01M 21/02 - Apparatus for mechanical destruction
• A01B 63/00 - Lifting or adjusting devices or arrangements for agricultural machines or implements
• A01B 69/00 - Steering of agricultural machines or implementsGuiding agricultural machines or implements on a desired track
• A01B 63/111 - Lifting or adjusting devices or arrangements for agricultural machines or implements for implements mounted on tractors operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means regulating working depth of implements
• A01B 51/02 - Undercarriages specially adapted for mounting-on various kinds of agricultural tools or apparatus propelled by a motor
• A01B 63/02 - Lifting or adjusting devices or arrangements for agricultural machines or implements for implements mounted on tractors
• A01B 63/12 - Lifting or adjusting devices or arrangements for agricultural machines or implements for implements mounted on tractors operated by an electric motor
• A01B 63/104 - Lifting or adjusting devices or arrangements for agricultural machines or implements for implements mounted on tractors operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means characterised by the location of the mounting on the tractor, e.g. on the rear part on the middle part, i.e. between front and rear wheels

Goods & Services

Agricultural machines and machine tools; agricultural apparatus (other than tractors); agricultural machines for cultivating, crop detection and picking, weeding, spraying, fertilising, harvesting, soil working, monitoring farm animals and livestock and for the herding of farm animals and livestock, including those which have a robotic function; industrial robots for use with, or as part of, agricultural machines and machine tools; cultivators; harvesters; apparatus for use in feeding livestock; robotic handling apparatus. Computer software, application software and computer programs (downloadable software) for use in respect of robotics and artificial intelligence in the agricultural field; electric control apparatus for agricultural machines; computer databases, including, computer databases containing agricultural information; electronic apparatus for surveying; map measuring instruments; data feeders and digitisers for use with robotics, artificial intelligence and agricultural apparatus; robotic apparatus for digitising agricultural data; apparatus for data collection and processing; operating systems (robotic). Unmanned agricultural robotic vehicles. Agricultural research services; conducting agricultural surveys; industrial analysis and industrial research services in respect of robotics, artificial intelligence and agricultural apparatus; design and development of computer hardware and software for use in respect of robotics, artificial intelligence and agricultural apparatus; online provision of non-downloadable software (application service provider) for use in respect of robotics, artificial intelligence and agricultural apparatus; computer support services (advisory and information services relating to computer software and the design and development of computer hardware and peripherals); computer support services (programming and software installation, repair and maintenance services); software as a service (SaaS) for use in respect of robotics, artificial intelligence and agricultural apparatus; agronomy services; digital imaging services (digitisation and scanning of images), including of soil, livestock and crops; technical data analysis services, including, in respect of soil, livestock and crops; development of systems for the processing, storage and transmission of data relating to agriculture; land and crop mapping services; surveying, including geological and land surveys; scientific and technological services in respect of robotics, artificial intelligence and agricultural apparatus. Agricultural services; horticultural services; farming services; surface spreading of fertilisers, agricultural chemicals, livestock feed and seeds; agricultural fumigation services; agricultural pest control services; rental of agricultural machinery; providing information, including online, about agriculture, horticulture and forestry including in respect of cultivation, crop detection and picking, weeding, spraying, fertilisation, harvesting, soil working, monitoring farm animals and livestock and for the herding of farm animals and livestock.

Goods & Services

Agricultural machines and machine tools, namely, self-propelled and robotic seed sowers and self-propelled and robotic seed sowers combined with earth moving equipment; robotic agricultural apparatus, other than tractors, namely, robotic tilling machines, reapers, and harvesters; agricultural machines in the nature of industrial robots and robotic handling apparatus being industrial robots for cultivating, crop detection and picking, weeding, spraying, fertilising, harvesting, soil working, monitoring farm animals and livestock and for the herding of farm animals and livestock including those which have a robotic function; industrial robots for use with, or as part of, agricultural machines and machine tools; robotic power-operated cultivators; robotic agricultural machinery, namely, harvesters; mechanised and robotic livestock feeders; industrial robots, namely, robotic handling apparatus for use with livestock operations Downloadable computer software, application software and computer programs for use in respect of robotics and artificial intelligence in the agricultural field, namely, for use in controlling, monitoring and analysis of data generated from robotic agricultural machines and machine tools used for cultivating, crop detection and picking, weeding, spraying, fertilising, harvesting, soil working, monitoring farm animals and livestock and for the herding of farm animals and livestock; electric control apparatus in the nature of computer controls for sensing and data manipulation, for precision position and velocity control operation of robotic platforms and machine tools for robotic agricultural machines and machine tools used for autonomous cultivating, crop detection and picking, weeding, spraying, fertilising, harvesting, soil working, monitoring farm animals and livestock and for the herding of farm animals and livestock; downloadable computer databases, namely, computer databases containing agricultural information regarding data generated from robotic agricultural machines and machine tools used for autonomous cultivating, crop detection and picking, weeding, spraying, fertilising, harvesting, soil working, monitoring farm animals and livestock and for the herding of farm animals and livestock; electronic apparatus for surveying, namely, surveying instruments; map measuring instruments, namely, measuring machines in the nature of measuring instruments for measuring length and height; data feeders and digitisers in the nature of electronic data processing apparatus for use with robotics, artificial intelligence and agricultural apparatus, namely, plant measuring quality and quantity instruments, flower counting algorithms, fruit counting algorithms, plant structure algorithms, vegetable counting algorithms, yield estimation algorithms, plant health monitoring algorithms, plant and animal pest detection algorithms; laboratory robots with artificial intelligence, namely, robotic apparatus for digitising agricultural data; apparatus for data collection and processing, namely, data processors and transceivers; downloadable computer operating system software for use with robotic systems; all of the foregoing excluding the provision of software or databases for obtaining agricultural jobs Unmanned aerial agricultural robotic vehicles Agricultural research services; Land surveying, namely, conducting agricultural surveys, namely, plant and pest survey, plant and pest monitoring; industrial analysis and industrial research services in respect of robotics, artificial intelligence and robotic agricultural apparatus; design and development of computer hardware and software for use in respect of robotics, artificial intelligence and robotic agricultural apparatus; application service provider (ASP) featuring online provision of non-downloadable software for use in respect of robotics, artificial intelligence and agricultural apparatus, namely, for use in controlling, monitoring and analysis of data generated from robotic agricultural machines and machine tools used for autonomous cultivating, crop detection and picking, weeding, spraying, fertilising, harvesting, soil working, monitoring farm animals and livestock and for the herding of farm animals and livestock; computer support services, namely, programming and software installation, repair and maintenance services; software as a service (SaaS) featuring software for use in respect of robotics, artificial intelligence and agricultural apparatus, namely, for use in data management and data analytics for robotic agricultural machines and machine tools used for autonomous cultivating, crop detection and picking, weeding, spraying, fertilising, harvesting, soil working, monitoring farm animals and livestock and for the herding of farm animals and livestock; agronomy services, namely, scientific analysis of plant and soil; digitisation and electronic scanning of images, namely, digital imaging services in the nature of Digital image correction, restoration and enhancement of soil, livestock and crops; technical data analysis services in the nature of technical research in the field of soil, livestock and crops; development of on-line computer software systems for the processing, storage and transmission of data generated from robotic agricultural machines and machine tools used for autonomous cultivating, crop detection and picking, weeding, spraying, fertilising, harvesting, soil working, monitoring farm animals and livestock and for the herding of farm animals and livestock; land and crop mapping services; surveying, including geological and land surveys; scientific and technological research services in respect of robotics, artificial intelligence and robotic agricultural apparatus; all of the foregoing excluding the provision of software or databases for obtaining agricultural jobs Agricultural services, namely, planting, growing, fertilising, pruning and picking of plants and vegetable, fruit and nut crops for others with the use of robotic agricultural machines and machine tools; horticultural services; livestock and agricultural crop farming services with the use of robotic agricultural machines and machine tools in the field of horticulture, namely, vegetables, fruits, and nuts including berries, cereals and pulses; surface spreading of fertilisers, agricultural chemicals, livestock feed and seeds with the use of robotic agricultural machines and machine tools; agricultural fumigation services, namely, pest control for agriculture with the use of robotic agricultural machines and machine tools; agricultural pest control services with the use of robotic agricultural machines and machine tools; rental of agricultural machinery; providing information, including online via a website and a database, about agriculture advice, horticulture services and pest control for forestry including in respect of cultivation, crop detection and picking, weeding, spraying, fertilisation, harvesting, soil working, monitoring farm animals and livestock and for the herding of farm animals and livestock, namely, agriculture advice in the nature of providing recommendations for plant and soil nutrition supplements; all of the foregoing excluding the provision of software or databases for obtaining agricultural jobs

Goods & Services

Agricultural machines and machine tools; agricultural apparatus (other than tractors); agricultural machines for cultivating, crop detection and picking, weeding, spraying, fertilising, harvesting, soil working, monitoring farm animals and livestock and for the herding of farm animals and livestock, including those which have a robotic function; industrial robots for use with, or as part of, agricultural machines and machine tools; cultivators; harvesters; apparatus for use in feeding livestock; robotic handling apparatus. Computer software, application software and computer programs (downloadable software) for use in respect of robotics and artificial intelligence in the agricultural field; electric control apparatus for agricultural machines; computer databases, including, computer databases containing agricultural information; electronic apparatus for surveying; map measuring instruments; data feeders and digitisers for use with robotics, artificial intelligence and agricultural apparatus; robotic apparatus for digitising agricultural data; apparatus for data collection and processing; operating systems (robotic). Agricultural tractors; vehicles adapted for agricultural use or for use with agricultural machines; transportation vehicles adapted for use in agriculture; robotic vehicles for agricultural use. Agricultural research services; conducting agricultural surveys; industrial analysis and industrial research services in respect of robotics, artificial intelligence and agricultural apparatus; design and development of computer hardware and software for use in respect of robotics, artificial intelligence and agricultural apparatus; online provision of non-downloadable software (application service provider) for use in respect of robotics, artificial intelligence and agricultural apparatus; computer support services (programming and software installation, repair and maintenance services); software as a service (SaaS) for use in respect of robotics, artificial intelligence and agricultural apparatus; digital imaging services (digitisation and scanning of images), including of soil, livestock and crops; technical data analysis services, including, in respect of soil, livestock and crops; development of systems for the processing, storage and transmission of data relating to agriculture; land and crop mapping services; surveying, including geological and land surveys; scientific and technological services in respect of robotics, artificial intelligence and agricultural apparatus; agronomy services. Agricultural services; horticultural services; farming services; surface spreading of fertilisers, agricultural chemicals, livestock feed and seeds; agricultural fumigation services; agricultural pest control services; rental of agricultural machinery; providing information, including online, about agriculture, horticulture and forestry including in respect of cultivation, crop detection and picking, weeding, spraying, fertilisation, harvesting, soil working, monitoring farm animals and livestock and for the herding of farm animals and livestock.

Goods & Services

Agricultural machines and machine tools; agricultural apparatus (other than tractors); agricultural machines for cultivating, crop detection and picking, weeding, spraying, fertilising, harvesting, soil working, monitoring farm animals and livestock and for the herding of farm animals and livestock, including those which have a robotic function; industrial robots for use with, or as part of, agricultural machines and machine tools; cultivators; harvesters; apparatus for use in feeding livestock; robotic handling apparatus. Computer software, application software and computer programs (downloadable software) for use in respect of robotics and artificial intelligence in the agricultural field; electric control apparatus for agricultural machines; computer databases, including, computer databases containing agricultural information; electronic apparatus for surveying; map measuring instruments; data feeders and digitisers for use with robotics, artificial intelligence and agricultural apparatus; robotic apparatus for digitising agricultural data; apparatus for data collection and processing; operating systems (robotic). Agricultural tractors; agricultural vehicles; vehicles adapted for agricultural use or for use with agricultural machines; robotic vehicles for agricultural use. Agricultural research services; conducting agricultural surveys; industrial analysis and industrial research services in respect of robotics, artificial intelligence and agricultural apparatus; design and development of computer hardware and software for use in respect of robotics, artificial intelligence and agricultural apparatus; online provision of non-downloadable software (application service provider) for use in respect of robotics, artificial intelligence and agricultural apparatus; computer support services (programming and software installation, repair and maintenance services); software as a service (SaaS) for use in respect of robotics, artificial intelligence and agricultural apparatus; digital imaging services (digitisation and scanning of images), including of soil, livestock and crops; technical data analysis services, including, in respect of soil, livestock and crops; development of systems for the processing, storage and transmission of data relating to agriculture; land and crop mapping services; surveying, including geological and land surveys; scientific and technological services in respect of robotics, artificial intelligence and agricultural apparatus; agronomy services. Agricultural services; horticultural services; farming services; surface spreading of fertilisers, agricultural chemicals, livestock feed and seeds; agricultural fumigation services; agricultural pest control services; rental of agricultural machinery; providing information, including online, about agriculture, horticulture and forestry including in respect of cultivation, crop detection and picking, weeding, spraying, fertilisation, harvesting, soil working, monitoring farm animals and livestock and for the herding of farm animals and livestock.

Goods & Services

Agricultural machines, namely, self propelled and robotic seed sowers and self propelled and robotic seed sowers combined with earth moving equipment; agricultural machine tools; agricultural apparatus, other than tractors, namely tilling machines, reapers, and harvesters; agricultural machines in the nature of industrial robots and robotic handling apparatus for cultivating, crop detection and picking, weeding, spraying, fertilising, harvesting, soil working, monitoring farm animals and livestock and for the herding of farm animals and livestock; industrial robots for use with, or as part of, agricultural machines and machine tools; agricultural machines, namely, cultivators; harvesters; mechanised and robotic livestock feeders; industrial robots, namely, robotic handling apparatus for use with livestock operations Downloadable computer software, application software and computer programs for use in controlling and monitoring robots and the collection of field data in the field of agriculture; electric control apparatus for agricultural machines; electronic database in the field of agricultural information recorded on computer media; electronic apparatus for surveying, namely, surveying machines and instruments; map measuring instruments, namely, instruments for measuring length and height; apparatus for recording, transmission, processing and reproduction of sound, images or data, namely, data feeders and digitisers for use with robotics, artificial intelligence and agricultural apparatus; laboratory robots with artificial intelligence, namely, robotic apparatus for digitising agricultural data; apparatus for data collection and processing, namely, data processors and transceivers; downloadable computer operating system software for use with robotic systems Agricultural tractors; land vehicles, namely, agricultural vehicles; land vehicles adapted for agricultural use or for with agricultural machines; robotic transport vehicles for agricultural use Agricultural research services; conducting agricultural surveys; industrial analysis and industrial research services in respect of robotics, artificial intelligence and agricultural apparatus; design and development of computer hardware and software for use in respect of robotics, artificial intelligence and agricultural apparatus; application service provider (ASP) featuring online provision of non-downloadable software for use in controlling and managing data in the field of robotics, artificial intelligence and agricultural apparatus; computer support services, namely, computer programming and software design, software installation, repair and maintenance; software as a service (SaaS) for use in data management and data analytics in the field of robotics, artificial intelligence and agricultural apparatus; digitisation and electronic scanning of images, namely, digital imaging services including of soil, livestock and crops; technical data analysis services, including, in respect of soil, livestock and crops; development of software systems for the processing, storage and transmission of data relating to agriculture; land and crop mapping services; surveying, including geological and land surveys; scientific and technological research services in respect of robotics, artificial intelligence and agricultural apparatus; agronomy services, namely, scientific analysis of plants and soil Agricultural advice; agriculture services, namely, planting, growing, fertilising, pruning and picking of plants and crops for others; horticultural services; livestock and agricultural crop farming services; surface spreading of fertilisers, agricultural chemicals, livestock feed and seeds; pest control for agriculture; agricultural pest control services; rental of agricultural machinery; providing information, including online, about agriculture advice, horticulture services and pest control for forestry including in respect of cultivation, crop detection and picking, weeding, spraying, fertilisation, harvesting, soil working, monitoring farm animals and livestock and for the herding of farm animals and livestock; agronomy services, namely, agriculture advice in the nature of providing recommendations for plant and soil nutrition supplements

Goods & Services

Agricultural machines, namely, self propelled and robotic seed sowers and self propelled and robotic seed sowers combined with earth moving equipment; agricultural machine tools; agricultural apparatus, other than tractors, namely tilling machines, reapers, and harvesters; agricultural machines in the nature of industrial robots and robotic handling apparatus for cultivating, crop detection and picking, weeding, spraying, fertilising, harvesting, soil working, monitoring farm animals and livestock and for the herding of farm animals and livestock; industrial robots for use with, or as part of, agricultural machines and machine tools; agricultural machines, namely, cultivators; harvesters; mechanised and robotic livestock feeders; industrial robots, namely, robotic handling apparatus for use with livestock operations Downloadable computer software, application software and computer programs for use in controlling and monitoring robots and the collection of field data in the field of agriculture; electric control apparatus for agricultural machines; electronic database in the field of agricultural information recorded on computer media; electronic apparatus for surveying, namely, surveying machines and instruments; map measuring instruments, namely, instruments for measuring length and height; apparatus for recording, transmission, processing and reproduction of sound, images or data, namely, data feeders and digitisers for use with robotics, artificial intelligence and agricultural apparatus; laboratory robots with artificial intelligence, namely, robotic apparatus for digitising agricultural data; apparatus for data collection and processing, namely, data processors and transceivers; downloadable computer operating system software for use with robotic systems Agricultural tractors; land vehicles, namely, agricultural vehicles; land vehicles adapted for agricultural use or for with agricultural machines; robotic transport vehicles for agricultural use Agricultural research services; conducting agricultural surveys; industrial analysis and industrial research services in respect of robotics, artificial intelligence and agricultural apparatus; design and development of computer hardware and software for use in respect of robotics, artificial intelligence and agricultural apparatus; application service provider (ASP) featuring online provision of non-downloadable software for use in controlling and managing data in the field of robotics, artificial intelligence and agricultural apparatus; computer support services, namely, computer programming and software design, software installation, repair and maintenance; software as a service (SaaS) for use in data management and data analytics in the field of robotics, artificial intelligence and agricultural apparatus; digitisation and electronic scanning of images, namely, digital imaging services including of soil, livestock and crops; technical data analysis services, including, in respect of soil, livestock and crops; development of software systems for the processing, storage and transmission of data relating to agriculture; land and crop mapping services; surveying, including geological and land surveys; scientific and technological research services in respect of robotics, artificial intelligence and agricultural apparatus; agronomy services, namely, scientific analysis of plants and soil Agricultural advice; agriculture services, namely, planting, growing, fertilising, pruning and picking of plants and crops for others; horticultural services; livestock and agricultural crop farming services; surface spreading of fertilisers, agricultural chemicals, livestock feed and seeds; pest control for agriculture; agricultural pest control services; rental of agricultural machinery; providing information, including online, about agriculture advice, horticulture services and pest control for forestry including in respect of cultivation, crop detection and picking, weeding, spraying, fertilisation, harvesting, soil working, monitoring farm animals and livestock and for the herding of farm animals and livestock; agriculture advice in the nature of providing recommendations for plant and soil nutrition supplements

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling weeds, which includes a tine formation adapted to remove or disrupt targeted weeds, and a tine support assembly adapted to support the tine for movement about a first control axis in a generally vertical direction between an engaged position wherein the tine formation in use contacts a ground surface for removal or disruption of targeted weeds and a disengaged position wherein the tine formation is substantially retracted from the ground surface. The tine support assembly is further adapted to support the tine for movement about a second control axis in a generally horizontal direction. The tine support assembly further includes a first actuation mechanism adapted to effect movement of the tine about the first control axis, and a second actuation mechanism adapted to effect movement of the tine about the second control axis. The apparatus also includes a sensing system for sensing aspects of an environment and generating data indicative thereof, and a classification system for identifying target weeds within the environment on the basis of the data from the sensing system. A control system is adapted to activate the first and second actuation mechanisms of the tine support assembly in accordance with a predetermined control logic thereby sequentially to position the tine for disruptive contact with the targeted weeds.

IPC Classes  ?

• A01B 39/18 - Other machines specially adapted for working soil on which crops are growing for special purposes for weeding
• A01B 79/00 - Methods for working soil
• A01M 21/04 - Apparatus for destruction by steam, chemicals, burning, or electricity
• A01M 21/02 - Apparatus for mechanical destruction
• A01B 63/00 - Lifting or adjusting devices or arrangements for agricultural machines or implements
• A01B 69/00 - Steering of agricultural machines or implementsGuiding agricultural machines or implements on a desired track
• A01B 63/111 - Lifting or adjusting devices or arrangements for agricultural machines or implements for implements mounted on tractors operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means regulating working depth of implements
• A01B 51/02 - Undercarriages specially adapted for mounting-on various kinds of agricultural tools or apparatus propelled by a motor
• A01B 63/02 - Lifting or adjusting devices or arrangements for agricultural machines or implements for implements mounted on tractors
• A01B 63/12 - Lifting or adjusting devices or arrangements for agricultural machines or implements for implements mounted on tractors operated by an electric motor
• A01B 63/104 - Lifting or adjusting devices or arrangements for agricultural machines or implements for implements mounted on tractors operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means characterised by the location of the mounting on the tractor, e.g. on the rear part on the middle part, i.e. between front and rear wheels

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle including a chassis and a pair of wheels supported in spaced apart relationship by the chassis for rotation about a common axis. A pair of drive modules is associated with the respective wheels. The drive modules and the chassis are connected for rotation as a sub-assembly relative to the wheels about the common axis with the centre of mass of the sub-assembly below the common axis in a static equilibrium position. Each of the drive modules is housed substantially within the respective wheel.

IPC Classes  ?

• B60K 7/00 - Disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel
• B60K 1/04 - Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units of the electric storage means for propulsion
• B60K 17/04 - Arrangement or mounting of transmissions in vehicles characterised by arrangement, location or kind of gearing
• B60L 8/00 - Electric propulsion with power supply from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind
• B60L 11/18 - using power supplied from primary cells, secondary cells, or fuel cells

Abstract

An automated apparatus, method and system for projecting a control agent toward a recognised target for the purposes of agricultural cultivation or environmental management or various other applications; a source of the control agent adapted for use in connection with an environmental control function, an outlet incorporating at least one outlet orifice to direct the control agent emanating from the outlet orifice toward a target. An activation means is movable between an operative mode and an inoperative mode in which the outlet is effectively closed. A targeting mechanism movable on at least one independent control axis provided for selectively orienting the outlet orifice and thereby orienting the control agent in the operative mode. A first sensing system, a classification system, a control system in accordance with a predetermined control logic adapted to deliver doses of the control agent to the identified targets for the purposes of the environmental control function.

IPC Classes  ?

• A01B 79/00 - Methods for working soil
• A01M 7/00 - Special adaptations or arrangements of liquid-spraying apparatus for purposes covered by this subclass
• A01M 21/04 - Apparatus for destruction by steam, chemicals, burning, or electricity
• A62C 37/40 - Control of fire-fighting equipment an actuating signal being generated by a sensor separate from an outlet device by both sensor and actuator, e.g. valve, being in the danger zone with electric connection between sensor and actuator
• A01G 25/09 - Watering arrangements making use of movable installations on wheels or the like
• B64D 1/18 - Dropping or releasing powdered, liquid or gaseous matter, e.g. for fire-fighting by spraying, e.g. insecticides
• B64C 39/02 - Aircraft not otherwise provided for characterised by special use
• B64D 47/08 - Arrangements of cameras