Method and apparatus used for biological control of agricultural pests
An apparatus for biological control of agricultural pests and for reducing damage to crops is disclosed. The apparatus includes a rotatable container for holding biological organisms or material. The walls of the container include a series of openings through which the biological organisms or material can pass, dispersing the biological organisms or material over a target area when the container is rotated.
1 . An apparatus for spreading biological organisms, comprising:
A drum having an inner cavity for containing biological organisms, a central axis, a first end wall, a second end wall, and a side wall extending circumferentially around and parallel to the central axis from the first end wall to the second end wall, wherein the inner cavity of the drum is substantially enclosed by the first end wall, the second end wall, and the side wall;
At least one mount coupled to the drum, wherein the mount is configured to interface with an unmanned aerial vehicle and to suspend the apparatus from the unmanned aerial vehicle;
A motor coupled to the first end wall of the drum and configured to rotate the drum about its central axis; and
A plurality of circumferentially spaced openings formed through the side wall, the side wall otherwise comprising a continuous, non-porous wall between adjacent openings, the openings being arranged to sequentially pass beneath the inner cavity during rotation to permit gravity-assisted release of biological organisms.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising the unmanned aerial vehicle.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is an aerial drone.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the drum's central axis is oriented substantially parallel to the ground.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first end wall of the drum is a cap that secures the biological organisms within the inner cavity when the cap is secured to the drum.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a motor holding area housing the motor and disposed between the drum and the mount.
7 . A method for spreading biological organisms, the method comprising:
Containing a plurality of biological organisms in the apparatus of claim 1 ;
Suspending the drum from the unmanned aerial vehicle by means of the mount;
Traversing over a target area with the unmanned aerial vehicle;
Rotating the drum about its central axis by means of a motor coupled to the first end wall of the drum, wherein the rotation causes biological organisms located in the bottom area to interact with successive portions of the side wall and wherein gravity causes one or more of the biological organisms to pass through the openings of the side wall;
Spreading the biological organisms over the target area by means of at least the rotation of the drum and the traversal of the unmanned aerial vehicle.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the central axis of the drum is oriented substantially parallel to the ground and the biological organisms are urged through the openings in the side wall of the drum by at least gravity and the rotation of the drum.
9 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising the step of mixing the biological organisms by rotating the drum.
10 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising the step of using a global positioning system (GPS) to determine, in whole or in part, the path of the unmanned aerial vehicle.
11 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising the step of using a global positioning system (GPS) to determine, in whole or in part, the rotation of the drum.
12 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the biological organisms are predatory mites.
13 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the biological organisms are selected from a group consisting of: Amblyseius swirskii, Phytoseiulus persimilis, Amblyseius califomicus, Amblyseius cucumeris, Amblyseius degenerans, Hypoaspis miles, Aphidoletes aphidimyza, Aphelinus abdominalis, Aphidius colemani, Chrysoperla camea, Aphidius ervi , and Diglyphus isaea.
14 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is an aerial drone.
15 . A system for spreading biological organisms, comprising:
An unmanned aerial vehicle;
The apparatus of claim 1 mounted to the unmanned aerial vehicle; and
A plurality of biological organisms contained within the inner cavity of the drum.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the biological organisms are predatory mites.
17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the biological organisms are selected from a group consisting of: Amblyseius swirskii, Phytoseiulus persimilis, Amblyseius califomicus, Amblyseius cucumeris, Amblyseius degenerans, Hypoaspis miles, Aphidoletes aphidimyza, Aphelinus abdominalis, Aphidius colemani, Chrysoperla camea, Aphidius ervi , and Diglyphus isaea.
18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is an aerial drone.
19 . The system of claim 15 , further comprising a motor coupled to the apparatus and configured to rotate the rotatable drum of the apparatus.