Cartridge ejection and data acquisition system

Abstract

An ejection system includes a frame; a controller unit coupled to the frame and adapted to receive a command input; a cartridge ejection unit coupled to the frame and adapted to eject a cartridge in response to the received command input; and a recording unit coupled to the controller unit and adapted to record data when the cartridge is ejected.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The principles of several embodiments of the present invention generally related to an electromechanical system, and more specifically to an electromechanical cartridge ejection and data acquisition system. [0003] 2. Discussion of the Related Art [0004] When applying agricultural chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, etc., to a target area (e.g., a predetermined agricultural field) via aerial application, it is generally desirable to maximize the amount of agricultural chemical that reaches the target while minimizing the amount of chemical that is applied to non-target areas (e.g., neighboring agricultural fields, schools, residential areas, business areas, etc.). As all aerially applied agricultural chemicals are capable of drifting, it is important to take practice aerial application techniques that help to minimize or prevent drift over non-target areas. Indeed, companies and individuals in the ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Indeed, companies and individuals in the agricultural chemical application industry face the increasing possibility of litigation due to chemical drift as schools, residential areas, and the like, continue to encroach upon agricultural fields.

Without accurate information related to meteorological conditions existing at different altitudes over and within the vicinity of the target area (i.e., localized meteorological conditions) such as humidity, temperature, barometric pressure, wind speed and direction, an aerial applicator cannot be sure whether it is safe to apply agricultural chemicals.

For example, it is generally ineffective, and often illegal, to aerially apply agricultural chemicals in the presence of wind speeds that are greater than 10 MPH as the agricultural chemicals drift excessively outside the target area.

Additionally, agricultural chemicals may drift excessively as aerosols in an atmosphere having a low humidity or high temperature, rather than condense into droplets that precipitate more readily in an atmosphere having a high humidity or low temperature.

Such a solution, however, generates toxic fumes that are often as environmentally unfriendly as the agricultural chemicals are when applied to non-target areas.

Accordingly, solutions relying solely on aircraft mounted instrumentation cannot determine meteorological conditions existing between the flight path of the aircraft and the surface of the target area (i.e., localized surface meteorological conditions).

Aerial applicator pilots, however, may sometimes estimate incorrectly, resulting in contamination or destruction of crops and significant health risks to people in non-target areas.

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