Automated Crop Monitoring and Analysis System
Legal Citation
Summary of the Inventive Concept
A system for automated crop monitoring and analysis, utilizing a conveyor system to retrieve and transport crops for analysis, providing real-time insights into crop health and enabling data-driven decision making for farmers.
Background and Problem Solved
The original adaptive basketball shooting device patent, while innovative in its application to wheelchair basketball, has limitations in its design and functionality. The new inventive concept addresses the need for efficient and accurate crop monitoring and analysis in agriculture, a critical problem in modern farming. By applying the core technology of the original patent to a new industry, this inventive concept provides a solution to the labor-intensive and time-consuming process of manual crop inspection.
Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept
The automated crop monitoring and analysis system consists of a frame mounted on a farm vehicle, featuring a lower sensor section and an upper data processing section. A conveyor system, adapted from the original patent's design, retrieves and transports crops for analysis. Sensors disposed in the lower sensor section analyze the crops, transmitting data to the upper data processing section for processing and display. The system can be controlled via a user-friendly control panel, enabling farmers to monitor and respond to crop health issues in real-time. The inventive concept can be scaled up to include multiple crop analysis devices, connected to a central processing unit, providing a comprehensive farm automation system.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The new claims introduce a novel application of the conveyor system technology, shifting from adaptive sports equipment to agricultural automation. The inventive step lies in the adaptation of the original design to accommodate the unique requirements of crop monitoring and analysis, including the integration of sensors and data processing capabilities.
Alternative Embodiments and Variations
Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept could include the use of drones or autonomous vehicles as the farm vehicle, or the integration of machine learning algorithms to provide predictive analytics for crop health. Variations could also include the application of this technology to other areas of agriculture, such as livestock monitoring or greenhouse automation.
Potential Commercial Applications and Market
The automated crop monitoring and analysis system has significant commercial potential in the agriculture industry, enabling farmers to increase crop yields, reduce waste, and optimize resource allocation. The target market includes large-scale commercial farms, as well as smaller, precision-focused operations. The system's ability to provide real-time insights and data-driven decision making capabilities makes it an attractive solution for farmers seeking to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market.
CPC Classifications
| Section | Class | Group |
|---|---|---|
| A | A63 | A63B71/0009 |
| A | A63 | A63B47/021 |
| A | A63 | A63B69/0071 |
| A | A63 | A63B69/406 |
| A | A63 | A63B2071/0018 |
| A | A63 | A63B2225/09 |
Section 103 Obviousness Analysis (PHOSITA)
Field of Art
Mechanical systems for automated transport and analysis, with expertise in adaptive mechanical platforms, conveyor systems, and sensor-based data collection across mobility and agricultural technologies
Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile
A mechanical engineer with interdisciplinary skills in robotics, sensor integration, and adaptive mechanical design, capable of translating mechanical principles across different technological domains
Obviousness Rationale
A PHOSITA would recognize the fundamental similarities between the adaptive sports device's mechanical framework and the proposed agricultural monitoring system, noting that the core conveyor transport mechanism can be readily adapted across different technical domains by substituting specific functional components while maintaining the underlying mechanical architecture.
Obvious Combinations & Variations
Original Patent Information
| Patent Number | US 11,857,859 |
|---|---|
| Title | Adaptive basketball shooting devices |