IP Library Granted Patent US 10,231,441
Granted Patent B2
US 10,231,441 · App. 14/864,245 · Granted Mar 19, 2019

Agricultural drone for use in livestock feeding

Inventors: Christopher V. Horton (Stoughton, WI); Samuel R. Vorpahl (Fort Atkinson, WI)
Assignee: DIGI-STAR, LLC
A01K29/005A01K1/10A01K5/01A01K5/02G01F23/292G01K13/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,231,441
App. No.
14/864,245
Granted
Mar 19, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and system utilizing one or more agricultural drones for real-time monitoring, delivery and dispensing of feed in feed bunks associated with feed lots.

Claims (31)

1. A method for monitoring a feedlot, the method comprising:

collecting information specific to at least one feed bunk of a plurality of feed bunks from a first agricultural drone flying over the plurality of feed bunks; and

transmitting the collected information specific to the at least one feed bunk in real-time from the first agricultural drone for monitoring the at least one feed bunk of the plurality of feed bunks.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a feed level of the at least one feed bunk based on the collected information specific to the at least one feed bunk; and

determining a feed ration for the at least one feed bunk of the plurality of feed bunks using the feed level.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the feed ration is determined by a field management control center associated with the feedlot.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

collecting information specific to at least one other feed bunk of the plurality of feed bunks from a second agricultural drone, the second agricultural drone flying substantially contemporaneously with the first agricultural drone; and

transmitting the collected information specific to the at least one other feed bunk in real-time from the second agricultural drone for monitoring the at least one other feed bunk.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

transmitting the collected information specific to the at least one other bunk in real-time from the second agricultural drone to at least one feed truck traversing the feedlot.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the collected information specific to the at least one feed bunk includes image data of a volume of feed associated with the at least one feed bunk.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

collecting and transmitting information specific to the at least one feed truck from the second agricultural drone.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

receiving, by the at least one feed truck, the collected information specific to the at least one other feed bunk from the second agricultural drone in real-time; and

adjusting in real-time, by the at least one feed truck, a feed ration for the at least one other feed bunk using the collected information specific to the at least one other feed bunk received from the second agricultural drone, and

wherein the flying of the second agricultural drone and the traversing of the feedlot by the at least one feed truck occur substantially contemporaneously.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein the feed level and the feed ration are determined by the first agricultural drone.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

adjusting, by the at least one feed truck, a particular feed ration for delivery to the at least one other feed bunk based on the collected information specific to the at least one feed truck.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the adjusting by the at least one feed truck includes an adjustment to a rate of dispensing feed from the at least one feed truck.

12. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

determining a feed level of the at least one other feed bunk based on the collected information specific to the at least one other feed bunk transmitted from the second agricultural drone; and

determining a feed ration for the at least one other feed bunk using at least the feed level.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying, by the first agricultural drone, a particular one pen of a plurality of pens, the particular one pen being associated with the at least one feed bunk.

14. The method of claim 6 wherein the collected information specific to the at least one feed bunk includes a temperature of the at least one feed bunk.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein further comprising:

routing at least one feed truck of a plurality of feed trucks through the feedlot based on the collected information specific to the at least one feed bunk.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 29, 2015
From: HORTON, CHRISTOPHER V.; VORPAHL, SAMUEL R.
To: DIGI-STAR, LLC
Reel/Frame 036680/0881 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170086429A1 · Mar 30, 2017
Cited By (1)
US 12,387,137