David J Mulla

US Patent:

20210027056, Jan 28, 2021

Filed:

Jul 23, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/519233

Inventors:

- Minneapolis MN, US
Ian V. MacRae - Minneapolis MN, US
Zachary Peter Dragan Marston - Minneapolis MN, US
David Mulla - Minneapolis MN, US

International Classification:

G06K 9/00
G06K 9/62
G06K 9/46
G06T 7/70
G01N 21/3563
G01N 21/359
G01N 33/02

Abstract:

A method of determining whether to treat soybeans for soybean aphids, the method includes collecting at least one image of a soybean canopy using one or more remote sensing instruments and processing the image into spectral reflectance data and selecting from the spectral reflectance data optimal spectral wavelength bands. The selected reflectance data is classified into one of a plurality of classification groupings using a machine learned classification model. To treat or not treat the soybean canopy for aphids is determined based on the classification of the reflectance data into one of the class groupings.

US Patent:

20200025741, Jan 23, 2020

Filed:

Jul 17, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/514537

Inventors:

- Minneapolis MN, US
Brian Bohman - Minneapolis MN, US
David Mulla - Minneapolis MN, US
Yuxin Miao - Minneapolis MN, US

International Classification:

G01N 33/24
G06K 9/00
G01N 21/27
G01N 33/00

Abstract:

A method of determining the nitrogen status of an area of land includes determining a critical nitrogen concentration for aboveground vegetation of plants in the area of land based on a dry weight biomass of entire plants and determining an actual nitrogen concentration for the aboveground vegetation of the plants. A critical nitrogen concentration for the entire plants is determined based on the dry weight biomass of the entire plants. The actual nitrogen concentration for the aboveground vegetation, the critical nitrogen concentration for the aboveground vegetation, the critical nitrogen concentration for the entire plants and the dry weight biomass of the entire plants are combined to form the nitrogen status for the area of land.

US Patent:

20190274257, Sep 12, 2019

Filed:

Mar 8, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/296856

Inventors:

- Minneapolis MN, US
Vassilios Morellas - Plymouth MN, US
Dimitris Zermas - Minnetonka MN, US
David Mulla - Brooklyn Center MN, US
Mike Bazakos - Bloomington MN, US

International Classification:

A01G 2/00
G06Q 50/02

Abstract:

Systems, techniques, and devices for detecting plant biometrics, for example, plants in a crop field. An imaging device of an unmanned vehicle may be used to generate a plurality of images of the plants, and the plurality of images may be used to generate a 3D model of the plants. The 3D model may define locations and orientations of leaves and stems of plants. The 3D model may be used to determine at least one biometric parameter of at least one plant in the crop. Such detection of plant biometrics may facilitate the automation of crop monitoring and treatment.

US Patent:

20190278988, Sep 12, 2019

Filed:

Mar 8, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/296941

Inventors:

- Minneapolis MN, US
Vassilios Morellas - Plymouth MN, US
Dimitris Zermas - Minnetonka MN, US
David Mulla - Brooklyn Center MN, US
Mike Bazakos - Bloomington MN, US

International Classification:

G06K 9/00
G06T 17/00
G06T 7/00
B64D 47/08
B64C 39/02

Abstract:

Systems, techniques, and devices for detecting plant biometrics, for example, plants in a crop field. An imaging device of an unmanned vehicle may be used to generate a plurality of images of the plants, and the plurality of images may be used to generate a 3D model of the plants. The 3D model may define locations and orientations of leaves and stems of plants. The 3D model may be used to determine at least one biometric parameter of at least one plant in the crop. Such detection of plant biometrics may facilitate the automation of crop monitoring and treatment.

US Patent:

20170177938, Jun 22, 2017

Filed:

Dec 15, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/380471

Inventors:

- Minneapolis MN, US
Vassilios Morellas - Minneapolis MN, US
Dimitris Zermas - Minneapolis MN, US
David Mulla - Minneapolis MN, US
Michael Bazakos - Minneapolis MN, US
Daniel Kaiser - Minneapolis MN, US

International Classification:

G06K 9/00
G06T 7/11
G06T 7/90

Abstract:

Pixel color values representing an image of a portion of a field are received where each pixel color value has a respective position within the image. A processor identifies groups of the received pixel color values as possibly representing a Nitrogen-deficient plant leaf. For each group of pixel color values, the processor converts the pixel color values into feature values that describe a shape and the processor uses the feature values describing the shape to determine whether the group of pixel color values represents a Nitrogen-deficient leaf of a plant. The processor stores in memory an indication that the portion of the field is deficient in Nitrogen based on the groups of pixel color values determined to represent a respective Nitrogen-deficient leaf.

US Patent:

20160018224, Jan 21, 2016

Filed:

Sep 26, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/498369

Inventors:

- Minneapolis MN, US
David Mulla - Minneapolis MN, US
Pratap Tokekar - Minneapolis MN, US
Joshua Vander Hook - Minneapolis MN, US

International Classification:

G01C 21/00
G01N 33/24
B60P 3/11
G01N 1/04
G08G 7/00
B64C 39/02

Abstract:

A system includes an unmanned aerial vehicle and an unmanned surface vehicle. The unmanned aerial vehicle has a memory storing a plurality of collection points and at least one sensor for collecting sensor data from each of the collection points. The unmanned surface vehicle is capable of moving to a plurality of locations. The unmanned aerial vehicle travels through the air between at least two collection points stored in the memory and the unmanned aerial vehicle is carried between at least two collection points stored in the memory by the unmanned surface vehicle.