초록 ▼

An electronic orchard tree measuring system based on ultrasonic range transducers may be used to determine the amount and vertical distribution of sensed load centroids in vertical sectors of orchard trees. The ultrasonic transducers may be operated independently of any processor or memory which rec

An electronic orchard tree measuring system based on ultrasonic range transducers may be used to determine the amount and vertical distribution of sensed load centroids in vertical sectors of orchard trees. The ultrasonic transducers may be operated independently of any processor or memory which receives their distance data outputs. Displacement sensing of the apparatus relative a row of target trees may instead be used to select ultrasonic distance data at predetermined incremental distances of travel relative the trees being sensed. Thus, the most recent value of sensed data is always available as input to the processor or memory, without requiring any timing circuitry between such sensing and control circuits. The detection data may be stored in memory for subsequent processing to create a map of foliar volumes of the sensed target trees. Alternatively, the spatial characteristics of the sensed amount and vertical distribution of load centroids for a given vertical segment of target trees may be further compared spatially with determined application patterns of controllable spray nozzles to configure subsequent activation of such nozzles for optimal material application to the given vertical segment of the sensed target trees.

대표청구항 ▼

Apparatus for obtaining distance data between the apparatus and a plurality of target trees aligned in a row, while being transported past such trees, said apparatus comprising: distance determining means for independently operating in cycles to sense respectively the distances between different ver

Apparatus for obtaining distance data between the apparatus and a plurality of target trees aligned in a row, while being transported past such trees, said apparatus comprising: distance determining means for independently operating in cycles to sense respectively the distances between different vertical locations on said apparatus and the nearest tree foliage therefrom of a target tree situated in a row of such trees along which said apparatus is transported, and for providing respective distance data outputs corresponding with each of said different vertical locations, which outputs are updated for each cycle of distance determining means operation; transport displacement sensing means for outputting an incremental distance signal indicative of said apparatus being transported a predetermined incremental distance relative a row of target trees; and data storage means, adapted to receive said respective distance data outputs and said incremental distance signal, for orderly storing of said respective distance data outputs for the respective current cycle of distance determining means operation occurring at the time of each incremental distance signal, whereby such orderly stored data outputs may be subsequently processed with respect to said predetermined incremental distance to obtain profiles of foliar volumes for a plurality of sensed target trees.