US5467271A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mapping and analysis system for precision farming applications
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corp
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Filing: 1993-12-17
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Granted: 1995-11-14
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Expires: 2013-12-17
Abstract
Abstract A mapping and analysis system generates agricultural maps and analyzes the agricultural maps to match farm inputs of a farming field to current soil and vegetation characteristics to optimize the productivity of the farming field. The mapping and analysis system includes an air-based device for generating spectral image data related to at least one of vegetation stress and soil characteristics for a portion of the farming field. A position device generates position data related to the position of said air-based device with respect to said portion of the farming field. A georeferencing device synchronizes said position data with said spectral image data to generate georeferenced spectral image data. A database is generated using the georeferenced data to monitor and analyze the farming field for a growing season to improve productivity thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J. Abel
- 👤 Michael C. MacDonald
- 👤 Peter S. Wang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 19:16
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01B; A01B79/00; A01B79/005; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A40/00; Y02A40/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A mapping and analysis system for generating agricultural maps and for analyzing said agricultural maps to match farm inputs of a farming field to current soil and vegetation characteristics to optimize the productivity of the farming field comprising: air-based means for generating spectral image data related to at least one of vegetation stress and soil characteristics for a portion of the farming field; position means for generating position data related to the position of said air-based means with respect to said portion of the farming field; and georeferencing means for synchronizing said position data with said spectral image data to generate georeferenced spectral image data.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
A mapping and analysis system for generating agricultural maps and for analyzing said agricultural maps to match farm inputs of a farming field to current soil and vegetation characteristics to optimize the productivity of the farming field comprising: air-based means for generating spectral image data related to at least one of vegetation stress and soil characteristics for a portion of the farming field; position means for generating position data related to the position of said air-based means with respect to said portion of the farming field; and georeferencing means for synchronizing said position data with said spectral image data to generate georeferenced spectral image data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The mapping and analysis system of claim 1 wherein said air-based means further includes: a spectrometer for generating said spectral image data over a plurality of frequency bands.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The mapping and analysis system of claim 2 wherein said air-based means further includes: a camera for generating at least one of visual and thermal image data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The mapping and analysis system of claim 3 wherein said georeferencing means includes: footprint means for projecting boundary points of a field of view of at least one of said spectrometer and said camera onto the ground.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The mapping and analysis system of claim 4 wherein said boundary points are assigned earth coordinate points.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The mapping and analysis system of claim 4 wherein said footprint means re-projects said boundary points when said position means generates new position data, when said at least one of said spectrometer and said camera is moved, and when a user selects an image snapshot.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The mapping and analysis system of claim 4 wherein said georeferencing means further includes: image rectification means for selecting an area within said projected boundary points and for determining and assigning said spectral image data relative earth coordinates.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The mapping and analysis system of claim 1 further comprising: mosaicking means for overlaying said georeferenced spectral image data for said portion of said farming field with said georeferenced spectral image data generated by said mapping and analysis system for at least one adjacent portion of said farming field.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The mapping and analysis system of claim 3 wherein said air-based means further includes: camera positioning means for positioning said high resolution camera.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The mapping and analysis system of claim 9 wherein said air-based means further includes: elevation database means associated with said air-based means for storing elevation data for said farming field under study.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The mapping and analysis system of claim 10 wherein said elevation database means generates elevation data under control of and in synchronization with said position data generated by said position means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The mapping and analysis system of claim 11 wherein said georeferencing means georeferences said spectral image data in real time using said position data and said elevation data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The mapping and analysis system of claim 9 wherein said georeferencing means georeferences said spectral image data using pointing signals generated by said camera positioning means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mapping and analysis system of claim 1 further comprising: display means for displaying said georeferenced spectral image data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The mapping and analysis system of claim 1 further comprising: annotation means for annotating said georeferenced spectral image data with text and graphics.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The mapping and analysis system of claim 1 further comprising: first data link means for transmitting georeferenced spectral image data to a ground station.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
The mapping and analysis system of claim 16 wherein said ground station includes: second data link means for receiving said georeferenced spectral image data from said air-based means; and storing means for storing said georeferenced spectral image data.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The mapping and analysis system of claim 17 wherein said ground station further includes: a ground-based spectrometer for generating ground-based spectral image data.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The mapping and analysis system of claim 18 wherein said ground station further includes: positioning means for positioning said ground-based spectrometer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The mapping and analysis system of claim 1 further comprising: database means for storing and associating said georeferenced spectral image data for a farming field with previously obtained georeferenced spectral image data for said farming field.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The mapping and analysis system of claim 20 wherein said database means stores said spectral image data according to geographical location, date and time.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
The mapping and analysis system of claim 21 wherein said database means associates georeferenced spectral image data collected using said air-based means with ground-based spectral image data according to geographical location, date and time.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
The mapping and analysis system of claim 22 wherein said database means stores, retrieves and associates ground-based soil and vegetation measurements according to geographical location, date and time.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
The mapping and analysis system of claim 1 wherein said ground station further includes: adaptive signal processing means for classifying collected georeferenced spectral image data into crop and soil status categories.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The mapping and analysis system of claim 1 further comprising: map generating means for generating georeferenced digital maps illustrating crop and soil categories.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The mapping and analysis system of claim 1 further comprising: electronic map generating means for generating georeferenced digital maps including crop and soil category data.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
The mapping and analysis system of claim 26 wherein said georeferenced digital maps are output to at least one of precision farming equipment, a computer network, digital tape, and CD-ROM.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of generating agricultural maps to match farm inputs of a farming field to current soil and vegetation characteristics to optimize the productivity of the farming field, comprising the steps of: generating spectral image data related to at least one of vegetation stress and soil characteristics for a portion of the farming field; generating position data related to the position of said air-based means with respect to said portion of the farming field; and generating georeferenced spectral image data by synchronizing said position data with said spectral image data.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of generating agricultural maps to match farm inputs of a farming field to current soil and vegetation characteristics to optimize the productivity of the farming field, comprising the steps of: generating spectral image data related to at least one of vegetation stress and soil characteristics for a portion of the farming field; generating position data related to the position of said air-based means with respect to said portion of the farming field; and generating georeferenced spectral image data by synchronizing said position data with said spectral image data.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said spectral image data is generated by at least one of a spectrometer and a camera.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 29 further including the step of: projecting boundary points of a field of view of at least one of said spectrometer and said camera onto the ground.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 30 further comprising the step of: assigning earth coordinate points to said boundary points.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 30 further including the step of: re-projecting said boundary points when said position means generates new position data, when said at least one of said spectrometer and said camera is moved, or when a user selects an image snapshot.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 30 further including the steps of: selecting an area within said projected boundary points; and assigning said spectral image data relative earth coordinates.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 33 further including the step of: overlaying said georeferenced spectral image data for said portion of said farming field with georeferenced spectral image data generated by said mapping and analysis system for at least one adjacent portion of said farming field.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 28 further including the step of: generating elevation data of said farming field from a database under control of and in synchronization with said position data.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 28 further including the step of: storing and associating said georeferenced spectral image data for a farming field with previously obtained georeferenced spectral image data for said farming field.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of: associating georeferenced spectral image data collected using said air-based means with ground-based spectral image data according to geographical location and date.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
102 words
A ground-based mapping and analysis system for analyzing air-based georeferenced spectral image data and for matching farm inputs of a farming field to current soil and vegetation characteristics to optimize the productivity of the farming field based upon said air-based georeferenced spectral image data, comprising: storing means for storing first and second sets of georeferenced spectral image data; database means, connected to said storing means, for associating said first and second sets of georeferenced spectral image data according to geographical location and date; and processing means for estimating optimal farm inputs from said first and second sets of georeferenced spectral image data.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
102 words
A ground-based mapping and analysis system for analyzing air-based georeferenced spectral image data and for matching farm inputs of a farming field to current soil and vegetation characteristics to optimize the productivity of the farming field based upon said air-based georeferenced spectral image data, comprising: storing means for storing first and second sets of georeferenced spectral image data; database means, connected to said storing means, for associating said first and second sets of georeferenced spectral image data according to geographical location and date; and processing means for estimating optimal farm inputs from said first and second sets of georeferenced spectral image data.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
30 words
The ground-based mapping and analysis system of claim 38 wherein said processing means generates crop and soil status data from said first and second sets of georeferenced spectral image data.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
48 words
The ground-based mapping and analysis system of claim 39 further comprising: map generating means for generating georeferenced digital maps from said crop and soil category data, wherein said georeferenced digital maps are output to at least one of precision farming equipment, a computer network, digital tape, and CD-ROM.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
27 words
The ground-based mapping and analysis system of claim 38 further comprising: ground-based means, coupled to said storing means and said database means, for collecting spectral image data.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
35 words
The ground-based mapping and analysis system of claim 41 wherein said ground-based means includes: a ground-based spectrometer; and positioning means, coupled to said ground-based spectrometer, for positioning said ground-based spectrometer and for generating position signals.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for analyzing air-based georeferenced spectral image data and for matching farm inputs of a farming field to current soil and vegetation characteristics to optimize the productivity of the farming field based upon said air-based georeferenced spectral image data, comprising the steps of: storing first and second sets of georeferenced spectral image data; associating said first and second sets of georeferenced spectral image data according to geographical location and date; and estimating optimal farm inputs from said first and second sets of georeferenced spectral image data.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for analyzing air-based georeferenced spectral image data and for matching farm inputs of a farming field to current soil and vegetation characteristics to optimize the productivity of the farming field based upon said air-based georeferenced spectral image data, comprising the steps of: storing first and second sets of georeferenced spectral image data; associating said first and second sets of georeferenced spectral image data according to geographical location and date; and estimating optimal farm inputs from said first and second sets of georeferenced spectral image data.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 43 further including the step of: generating crop and soil status data from said first and second sets of georeferenced spectral image data.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 44 further including the steps of: generating georeferenced digital maps from said crop and soil category data; and outputting said georeferenced digital maps to at least one of precision farming equipment, a computer network, digital tape, and CD-ROM.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ground-based mapping and analysis system of claim 43 further including the step of: collecting ground-based spectral image data; and associating said ground-based spectral image data with said air-based georeferenced spectral image data.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
50 words
The ground-based mapping and analysis system of claim 41 further including the step of: collecting said ground-based spectral image data using a ground-based spectrometer and a positioning means, coupled to said ground-based spectrometer, for positioning said ground-based spectrometer; and generating positioning signals based upon the position of said ground-based spectrometer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-11-13 | 1999-05-15 | 1999-11-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-11-13 | 2003-05-15 | 2003-11-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-11-13 | 2007-05-15 | 2007-11-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |