Agricultural aircraft control system using the global positioning system
Patent 5334987 Issued on August 2, 1994. Estimated Expiration Date: 
April 1, 2013. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
April 1, 2013. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent ReferencesLaser guidance system for crop spraying aircraft Method of introducing a baseline measurement into electronic positioning apparatus Method of and apparatus for guiding agricultural aircraft Survey system and method for real time collection and processing of geophysicals data using signals from a global positioning satellite network Two channel global positioning system receiver Patent #: 5175557 InventorAssigneeApplicationNo. 041162 filed on 04/01/1993US Classes:701/214, Means to improve accuracy of position or location342/357.17With particular action taken responsive to positionExaminersPrimary: Blum, Theodore M.Attorney, Agent or FirmInternational ClassesH04B 007/185G01S 005/02 AbstractAn aircraft control system for applying chemicals to an agricultural field in one of a plurality of flight patterns is provided. A global positioning system receiver receives radio frequency signals from satellites and the position of the aircraft is determined from the information contained in the received signals. An aircraft computer stores the surface coordinates of the field to be sprayed. The aircraft pilot enters the desired orientation, swath width and track width of the flight pattern into the computer. Based on the aforementioned information, the computer produces a flight pattern having the desired orientation and generates, via a pilot headset, audible signals representative of amount and direction of deviation from the desired flight pattern. The computer means may also automatically activate and deactivate chemical spraying upon entering and exiting, respectfully, the airspace above the field.Other References
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