GB2541868A - Maintenance of a plurality of plants - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of managing the maintenance of a plurality of plants comprises the steps of: (a) providing plant information about each plant of the plurality of plants; (b) determining based on the plant information which of the plurality of maintenance services is required by each plant, and determining based on the plant information when each plant requires the respective determined maintenance service; (c) based on the plant information, arranging a maintenance schedule of the performance of the respective determined maintenance service on each plant; (d) selecting, from a plurality of plant maintenance tools, the plant maintenance tool corresponding to the determined maintenance service required by each plant; and (e) operating the or each selected plant maintenance tool to perform the corresponding determined maintenance service on the corresponding plant in accordance with the maintenance schedule. Also disclosed is an assembly for use in the method and a plant service machine. The plants may be date palms.

Description

MAINTENANCE OF A PLURALITY OF PLANTS

This invention relates to a method of managing the maintenance of a plurality of plants, an assembly for managing the maintenance of a plurality of plants, and a plant service machine for use in the maintenance of a plant. A plant undergoes several stages of growth prior to harvest. At each stage a specific maintenance service may be performed on the plant.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of managing the maintenance of a plurality of plants wherein the maintenance of each plant is based on a plurality of maintenance services, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing plant information about each plant of the plurality of plants; (b) determining based on the plant information which of the plurality of maintenance services is required by each plant, and determining based on the plant information when each plant requires the respective determined maintenance service; (c) based on the plant information, arranging a maintenance schedule of the performance of the respective determined maintenance service on each plant; (d) selecting, from a plurality of plant maintenance tools, the plant maintenance tool corresponding to the determined maintenance service required by each plant; and (e) operating the or each selected plant maintenance tool to perform the corresponding determined maintenance service on the corresponding plant in accordance with the maintenance schedule.

Plant characteristics, such as plant age, plant type, plant location and so on, may vary among a plurality of plants located in the same area, which may be a field or an orchard. Such variation in plant characteristics may result in different plants of the plurality of plants to be, at any given time, undergoing different stages of growth that respectively require different maintenance services.

Conventionally the maintenance of an individual plant is handled separately from the maintenance of other plants. Consequently the variation in plant characteristics among a plurality of plants could lead to the individual plant receiving the wrong maintenance service, or receiving the right maintenance service but at the wrong time.

The method of the invention allows the plant information about each plant of the plurality of plants to be taken into account in order to arrange the maintenance schedule prior to the performance of the determined maintenance services, thus providing the plurality of plants with timely and efficient maintenance. This not only ensures that each plant of the plurality of plants receives the required determined maintenance service on time, thus improving the well-being of each plant, but also improves the overall efficiency of the maintenance of the plurality of plants, which leads to time and cost savings.

The plurality of plant maintenance tools includes a range of plant maintenance tools, where the configuration of each plant maintenance tool depends on the respective type of maintenance service. It will be appreciated that a given plant maintenance tool may be in the form of a plant maintenance attachment.

The plurality of maintenance services may include trimming. The corresponding plant maintenance tool may be a trimming tool configured to trim a plant to, for example, remove dead leaves and/or dead branches.

The plurality of maintenance services may include spraying. The corresponding plant maintenance tool may be a spraying tool configured to spray chemicals onto a plant.

The plurality of maintenance services may include crop or fruit bunch pollination. The corresponding plant maintenance tool may be a pollination tool configured to spread pollination granular to the crops or fruit bunches of the plant.

The plurality of maintenance services may include crop or fruit bunch thinning. The corresponding plant maintenance tool may be a thinning tool configured to remove excess crops or excess fruits in the fruit bunch. This permits the size and quality of individual crops and fruits to be improved while maintaining the overall weight of the harvested crops or fruit bunch.

The plurality of maintenance services may include crop, fruit or fruit bunch supporting. The corresponding plant maintenance tool may be a supporting tool configured to support the weight of the crop, fruit or fruit bunch while it is still attached to the plant.

The plurality of maintenance services may include crop, fruit or fruit bunch bagging. The corresponding plant maintenance tool may be a bagging tool configured to transfer the crop, fruit or fruit bunch into a protective bag. This protects the crop, fruit or fruit bunch from birds, insects and dust prior to harvest.

The plurality of maintenance services may include crop, fruit or fruit bunch harvesting. The corresponding plant maintenance tool may be a harvesting tool which includes: a removal equipment, e.g. a cutting implement, configured to remove the crop, fruit or fruit bunch from the plant; and collection equipment, e.g. a basket, to receive and collect the removed crop, fruit or fruit bunch.

The method of the invention may take into account a range of plant information when determining the type and time of the next maintenance service for each plant and arranging the maintenance schedule.

The plant information about each plant may include plant type. This is because the plurality of plants may include different types of plants which increases the likelihood of the plurality of plants being at different stages of growth and thereby requiring different types of maintenance services.

The plant information about each plant may include plant age. This is because a given plant may be planted at a different time from one or more other plants due to, for example, the need to replace a previous plant or due to the expansion of the plurality of plants to further include newer plants.

The plant information about each plant may include location information of the plant. Optionally the location information may include location coordinates, such as Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates. The location information makes it easier to build an overview of the plurality of plants that includes an individual profile of each plant of the plurality of plants, which improves the arrangement of the maintenance schedule by associating the type and time of the next maintenance service for each plant with the respective location information.

The plant information about each plant may include recorded image information of the plant. The recorded image information provides visual information on the status of each plant, which can be reviewed at any time without having to undergo the time-consuming process of physically visiting each plant. Also, the recorded image information can be reviewed using image enhancement software and/or image processing software to improve the steps of determining the type and time of the next maintenance service for each plant and arranging the maintenance schedule.

The plant information about each plant may include the type of the last maintenance service performed on the plant. The plant information about each plant may include the time of the last maintenance service performed on the plant. The plant information about each plant may include the number of crops, fruits or fruit bunches previously harvested from the plant. The plant information about each plant may include the age of the present crops, fruits or fruit bunches of the plant. The plant information about each plant may include the number of the present crops, fruits or fruit bunches of the plant that are ready for maintenance. This information provides useful data that may be taken into account when arranging the maintenance schedule in order to accurately determine the type and time of the next maintenance service for each plant.

In embodiments of the invention, arranging the maintenance schedule of the performance of the respective determined maintenance service on each plant may include determining the order of priority of performing the determined maintenance services on the respective plants. The order of priority may depend on the relative importance of the determined maintenance services for different plants and/or on the required timing of the respective determined maintenance service for each plant.

In further embodiments of the invention, arranging the maintenance schedule of the performance of the respective determined maintenance service on each plant may include optimising the order of performing the determined maintenance services on the respective plants. By optimising the order of performing the determined maintenance services on the respective plants, it is possible to improve the overall efficiency of the maintenance of the plurality of plants.

The order of performing the determined maintenance services on the respective plants may be optimised in different ways to achieve different goals. For example, arranging the maintenance schedule of the performance of the respective determined maintenance service on each plant may include optimising the order of performing the determined maintenance services on the respective plants in order to: • minimise overall time taken to perform the determined maintenance services on the respective plants; • maximise the quality of crop, fruit or fruit bunch yield harvested from the plants; and/or • maximise the quantity of crop, fruit or fruit bunch yield harvested from the plants.

In still further embodiments of the invention, the step (b) may further include using a processor to process the plant information to: determine based on the plant information which of the plurality of maintenance services is required by each plant; to determine based on the plant information when each plant requires the respective determined maintenance service; and to arrange the maintenance schedule based on the plant information. The use of the processor in this manner provides a degree of automation to the method of the invention, which result in further efficiency improvements.

The method may further include the steps of: providing a plant service machine that includes a control unit; providing the plant service machine with the plurality of plant maintenance tools; and using the control unit to operate the or each selected plant maintenance tool to perform the corresponding determined maintenance service on the corresponding plant in accordance with the maintenance schedule. The use of a plant service machine reduces the amount of manual labour required to carry out the selection and operation of the plurality of plant maintenance tools.

The control unit may be a mobile device, such as a laptop, a smartphone and a tablet. The capabilities of the mobile device provides added functionality to the operation of the plant service machine.

The plant service machine may include an information display unit, which allows the method of the invention to further include the step of communicating the maintenance schedule to the information display unit. This advantageously allows an operator of the plant service machine to remotely access the maintenance schedule via the information display unit.

The information display unit may be a mobile device, such as a laptop, a smartphone and a tablet.

The control unit and information display unit may be the same unit.

When the plant information about each plant includes location information of the plant, the method may further include the step of transporting the plant service machine to each plant in accordance with the maintenance schedule, wherein the maintenance schedule includes a route to be followed when transporting the plant service machine to each plant. This step allows the method of the invention to be applied to a plurality of plants in which multiple plants are respectively placed in different locations.

The method of the invention permits the location information of each plant to be taken into account in the arrangement of the maintenance schedule. This ensures that the plant service machine is transported to the correct plant at the correct time to perform the desired determined maintenance service.

The method may include the step of transporting the plant service machine to each plant based on the determined order of priority and/or based on the optimised order.

The method may include the steps of: determining the optimal route for transporting the plant service machine to each plant to minimise overall time and/or overall distance taken to transport the plant service machine to each plant; and transporting the plant service machine to each plant based on the optimal route. This has the result of further improving the overall efficiency of the maintenance of the plurality of plants for additional time and cost savings.

The method may include the steps of: providing a transporter that includes a power source; operating the transporter to transport the plant service machine to each plant in accordance with the maintenance schedule; and configuring the power source to supply power to the plant service machine. Using the power source of the transporter to power the plant service machine removes the need to transport a separate power source, such as a generator, with the plant service machine.

The transporter may be, but is not limited to, a tractor or utility vehicle.

The method may include the step of providing a plurality of plant service machines. Providing a plurality of plant service machines advantageously reduces the overall time taken to perform the determined maintenance services on the plants by, for example, using multiple plant service machines to simultaneously service multiple plants and/or by using multiple plant service machines configured with different selected plant maintenance tools.

The management of the maintenance of the plurality of plants may be carried out based on recorded image information of each plant. When the plant information about each plant includes recorded image information of the plant, the method may further include the step of using an image recording device to obtain the recorded image information of each plant.

Using an image recording device to obtain the recorded image information of each plant may include providing an aerial drone with the image recording device and operating the aerial drone. The aerial drone is capable of covering a wide area in a short amount of time and thereby enables the speedy collection of the recorded image information of the plurality of plants using the image recording device. An example of an aerial done is a quad copter.

Alternatively the method may further include the step of providing the plant service machine with the image recording device. This not only allows the image recording device to obtain the recorded image information about a given plant when the plant service machine is being used to service the given plant, but also enables an operator to monitor the performance of the determined maintenance service, especially when the plant is significantly taller than the operator.

It will be appreciated that the method of the invention may employ the use of multiple image recording devices. For example, the aerial drone may be provided with a first image recording device while the plant service machine may be provided with a second image recording device.

The method may further include the step of updating the plant information about each plant. Optionally wherein updating the plant information about each plant includes updating the plant information about a given plant of the plurality of plants after performing the corresponding determined maintenance service on the given plant. This ensures that the steps of determining the type and time of the next maintenance service for each plant and arranging the maintenance schedule are based on up-to-date information.

Updating the plant information about each plant may include using the image recording device to obtain updated recorded image information of each plant.

It will be appreciated that each plant may be in the form of a tree which may be, but is not limited, to a date palm tree.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided an assembly for managing the maintenance of a plurality of plants wherein the maintenance of each plant is based on a plurality of maintenance services, the plant service machine comprising: a plant service machine including a plurality of plant maintenance tools and a control unit, each plant maintenance tool corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of maintenance services; and a control base programmed to receive plant information, the control base further programmed to: determine based on plant information about each plant which of the plurality of maintenance services is required by each plant; to determine based on plant information about each plant when each plant requires the respective determined maintenance service; and to, based on the plant information, arrange a maintenance schedule of the performance of the respective determined maintenance service on each plant, wherein the control unit is configured to be usable to operate each plant maintenance tool to perform the corresponding determined maintenance service on the corresponding plant in accordance with the maintenance schedule.

The features and advantages of the method of the first aspect of the invention and its embodiments apply mutatis mutandis to the assembly of the second aspect of the invention and its embodiments.

In embodiments of the invention, the control based may be programmed to determine the order of priority of performing the determined maintenance services on the respective plants when arranging the maintenance schedule of the performance of the respective determined maintenance service on each plant.

In further embodiments of the invention, the control base may be programmed to optimise the order of performing the determined maintenance services on the respective plants when arranging the maintenance schedule of the performance of the respective determined maintenance service on each plant. In such embodiments, the control base may be programmed to optimise the order of performing the determined maintenance services on the respective plants in order to: • minimise overall time taken to perform the determined maintenance services on the respective plants; • maximise the quality of crop, fruit or fruit bunch yield harvested from the plants; and/or • maximise the quantity of crop, fruit or fruit bunch yield harvested from the plants, when arranging the maintenance schedule of the performance of the respective determined maintenance service on each plant.

The control base may include a processor configured to process the plant information to: determine based on plant information about each plant which of the plurality of maintenance services is required by each plant; to determine based on plant information about each plant when each plant requires the respective determined maintenance service; and to, based on the plant information, arrange a maintenance schedule of the performance of the respective determined maintenance service on each plant.

The plant service machine may include an information display unit. The control base may be programmed to communicate the maintenance schedule to the information display unit. The information display unit may be a mobile device that is configured to communicate wirelessly with the control base.

When the plant information about each plant includes location information of the plant, the assembly may further include a transporter configured to transport the plant service machine to each plant in accordance with the maintenance schedule, and the maintenance schedule includes a route to be followed when transporting the plant service machine to each plant.

The transporter may be configured to transport the plant service machine to each plant based on the determined order of priority and/or based on the optimised order.

The control base may be programmed to determine the optimal route for transporting the plant service machine to each plant to minimise overall time and/or overall distance taken to transport the plant service machine to each plant. The transporter may be configured to transport the plant service machine to each plant based on the optimal route.

The transporter may include a power source that is configured to supply power to the plant service machine. The transporter may be, but is not limited to, a tractor or utility vehicle.

The assembly may include a plurality of plant service machines.

When the plant information about each plant includes recorded image information of the plant, the assembly may further include an image recording device configured to obtain the recorded image information of each plant. The image recording device may be configured to provide the recorded image information to the control base either through wireless communication or direct transfer from the image recording device to the control base.

The image recording device may be provided on an aerial drone. Alternatively the image recording device may be provided on the plant service machine.

The control base may be programmed to permit updating of the plant information about each plant. Optionally the control base may be programmed to permit updating of the plant information about a given plant of the plurality of plants after the corresponding determined maintenance service is performed on the given plant.

The image recording device may be configured to obtain updated recorded image information of each plant. The image recording device may be configured to provide the updated recorded image information to the control base.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a plant service machine for use in the maintenance of a plant, the plant service machine comprising; a machine body; and a climbing mechanism for climbing a plant, wherein the climbing mechanism includes: a plurality of rotatable rolls arranged to, in use, grip the plant; and an actuator configured to, in use, rotate each roll to move the machine body up and down the plant.

The inclusion of the plurality of rotatable rolls in the climbing mechanism enables the climbing mechanism to apply a strong grip on the plant due to the grip surface area provided by the shape of the rotatable rolls. This in turn increases the payload that can be supported by the climbing mechanism while it climbs up and down the plant.

Each rotatable roll may be ribbed and/or concave. This further improves the ability of the rotatable rolls to grip the plant.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a plant service machine for use in the maintenance of a plant, the plant service machine comprising; a machine body; and a plant maintenance tool in the form of a plant trimmer, wherein the plant trimmer includes a laser configured to, in use, to trim the plant.

The inclusion of a laser-based plant trimmer in the plant service machine enables the plant service machine to provide faster cutting speed with lower power requirements when compared to a mechanical trimmer, such as a band saw or a jig saw.

The plant service machine may further include an actuator, where the laser is provided on the actuator. The actuator may be configured to, in use, move the laser to track a path about the plant. This enables the plant trimmer to efficiently carry out the trimming of the plant, which may involve trimming of dead leaves and/or dead branches located at different positions around the plant. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows an assembly according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 show a climbing mechanism of the date palm service machine of the assembly shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows the operation of the date palm service machine to climb a date palm tree;

Figure 4 shows an exemplary maintenance schedule of the performance of maintenance services on a plurality of date palm trees; and

Figures 5 to 11 show the performance of maintenance services on a date palm tree.

Figure 1 shows a date palm orchard comprising a plurality of date palm trees. For the purposes of illustrating the working of the invention, the date palm orchard of Figure 1 consists of fifteen date palm trees in a three columns by five rows arrangement. However, in practice, a date palm orchard typically includes hundreds of trees or more. A date palm tree typically has the following characteristics: a total height reaching 35 m; a vegetative age of 100 years; tree roots that can reach into the soil to a depth of more than 15 m; the ability to bear drought conditions for 6 months; and the ability to bear temperatures of -5 °C to 65 °C. The date palm tree also normally has the ability to produce 3-15 date fruit bunches and a total harvest yield of 250 kg. It typically needs to be climbed at least six times for optimal harvest yield, and the trimming of a date palm tree normally takes 20-30 minutes if performed by a professional worker. A date palm tree undergoes several stages of growth throughout the year and thereby requires seven main maintenance services, which are described as follows with reference to Middle East weather: 1) Trimming: From November to March, the date palm tree undergoes trimming to trim all dead leaves beneath the tree canopy in order to encourage general growth and to prevent insects from living inside the pores of the dead leaves. 2) Pollination: From March to April, pollination granular is blown onto the female date fruit bunches of the date palm tree to ensure blooming in order to improve the harvest yield of the date palm tree. 3) Thinning: From May to June, excess fruits are removed from the date fruit bunches of the date palm tree to improve the size and quality of individual fruits while maintaining the overall weight of each date fruit bunch. 4) Supporting: From May to July, each date fruit bunch is attached to another part of the plant, such as a leaf, to support the weight of the date fruit bunch. 5) Bagging: From May to July, each date fruit bunch is bagged in protective cloth or mesh bags to prevent birds, insects and dust from spoiling the date fruit bunches prior to harvest. 6) Harvesting: From July to August, date fruit bunches are harvested from the date palm tree by cutting the stem of the date fruit bunch from the top of the tree. The exact timing of the harvesting step depends on the desired moisture level of the date fruits. 7) Spraying: From September to November, chemicals are sprayed on the date palm tree to prevent infection by diseases or infestation by insects, such as red palm weevil.

Date palm tree characteristics, such as age, type, location and so on, may vary among the plurality of date palm trees located in the same orchard. This means that different date palm trees located in different parts of the orchard 20 may require different maintenance services at different times.

In order to manage the maintenance of the plurality of date palm trees, there is provided an assembly according to an embodiment of the invention, which is shown in Figure 1.

The assembly comprises a date palm service machine 22, a transporter 24, a control base 26, and an aerial drone (not shown).

The date palm service machine 22 includes a machine body 28 and a plurality of maintenance attachments. Each maintenance attachment corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of maintenance services for the date palm tree. In use, each date palm maintenance attachment can be installed on the machine body 28 of the date palm service machine 22 when selected to perform the respective maintenance service.

The plurality of maintenance attachments includes a trimming attachment 30, a pollination attachment 32, a thinning attachment 34, a supporting attachment 36, a bagging attachment 38, a harvesting attachment 40, and a spraying attachment 42, as respectively shown in Figures 5 to 11.

The trimming attachment 30 includes a laser 44 configured to, in use, to trim the dead leaves 46 of the date palm tree. The laser 44 is mounted on an actuator that is configured to, in use, move the laser 44 to track a path about the date palm tree in order to enable the laser 44 to trim dead leaves 46 around the date palm tree, while avoiding the live leaves 48. The actuator may be in the form of a moving cart that moves along a track mounted on the machine body 28 of the date palm service machine 22.

The pollination attachment 32 includes a pollination granular storage tank 50, and a blower 52 to blow pollination granular from the storage tank 50 to the female date fruit bunches 54. The blower 52 is mounted on an actuator that is configured to, in use, move the blower 52 to track a path 56 about the date palm tree in order to enable the blower 52 to target female date fruit bunches 54 around the date palm tree. Again the actuator may be in the form of a moving cart that moves along a track mounted on the machine body 28 of the date palm service machine 22.

The thinning attachment 34 includes a cutting implement 58 to cut the stems of individual date fruits from a date fruit bunch 60. The cutting implement may be attached to a robotic arm that is directly or wirelessly controlled by a control unit.

The supporting attachment 36 includes a yoke 62 to direct a date fruit bunch to the nearest leaf 64, and a cable tie 66 to tie the stem 68 of the date fruit bunch to be supported by the nearest leaf 66.

The bagging attachment 38 includes a yoke 70 to direct a date fruit bunch 72 into a protective cloth or meshed bag 74.

The harvesting attachment 40 includes a cutting implement 76 to cut the stem 78 of a date fruit bunch 80 from the date palm tree, and also includes a basket 82 that is positioned to surround the date palm tree to receive and collect removed date fruit bunches 80 so as to prevent damage to the date fruit bunches 80 resulting from them falling directly to the ground.

The spraying attachment 42 includes a tank 84 storing liquid chemicals, an injection pump 86, and a spraying boom 88 with a spray nozzle 90. In use, the injection pump 86 is operated to pump liquid chemicals from the tank 84 into the spray boom 88, and the spraying nozzle 90 is raised to an appropriate height above the canopy of the date palm tree to release a spray of liquid chemicals 92 onto the leaves of the date palm tree.

It will be appreciated that, where different maintenance attachments includes the same feature, that same feature may be shared between the different maintenance attachments. For example, the cutting implement 58 of the thinning attachment 36 may be the same as the cutting implement 76 of the harvesting attachment 38.

The date palm service machine 22 also includes a climbing mechanism 94 for climbing a date palm tree. The climbing mechanism 94 includes two sets of rotatable ribbed, concave rolls 96, where each set includes a respective linear arrangement of the rotatable rolls 96, as shown in Figure 2. The two sets of rotatable rolls 96 are opposingly arranged and spaced apart so as to enable the two sets of rotatable rolls 96 to, in use, respectively grip opposite sides of the trunk 98 of the date palm tree. The climbing mechanism 94 further includes a plurality of belts 100, where each belt 100 is coupled to a respective one of the sets of rotatable rolls 96 such that each belt 100 may be driven to rotate the corresponding rotatable rolls 96. When the rotatable rolls 96 are arranged to grip the opposite sides of the trunk 98 of the date palm tree, the rotation of the rotatable rolls 96 translates into the movement of the climbing mechanism 94 up and down the trunk 98 of the date palm tree, which in turns moves the machine body 28 up and down the trunk 98 of the date palm tree, as illustrated in Figure 3.

It is envisaged that, in other embodiments of the invention, the belt 100 may be replaced by another type of actuator that is configured to, in use, rotate each rotatable roll to move the machine body 28 up and down the date palm tree.

The date palm service machine 22 further includes a mobile device 102 with a display screen 104, such as a laptop, a smartphone and a tablet. The mobile device 102 not only acts as a control unit that includes software programmed to enable an operator 106 to control each maintenance attachment and the climbing mechanism 94, but also acts as an information display unit. A first camera 108 is mounted on the machine body 28 to allow the recording of image information of the date palm tree when the date palm service machine 22 is servicing the plant, to enable an operator 106 to monitor the servicing of the date palm tree, and to enable the operator 106 to monitor the climbing mechanism 94 when it climbs the trunk of the date palm tree. The first camera 108 is configured to provide the recorded image information to the mobile device 102 via wireless communication and/or direct transfer.

It is envisaged that, in other embodiments of the invention, the assembly may include a plurality of date palm service machines 22, instead of a single date palm service machine 22.

In the embodiment shown the transporter 24 is in the form of an agriculture tractor, but in other embodiments may be in the form of other types of vehicles, such as a utility vehicle. The transporter 24 is configured to be capable of carrying and transporting the date palm service machine 22 to each plant in the date palm orchard 20. The tractor may be configured as a power source to supply power to a motor 110 of the date palm service machine 22.

Alternatively the date palm service machine 22 may have its own power source, such as a generator.

The control base 26 comprises a server computer that is programmed to receive and process plant information about each date palm tree. The plant information about each date palm tree includes: • the type of the date palm tree, such as Majdool, Barhee, Maktoom; • the age of the date palm tree; • GPS coordinates of the date palm tree; • recorded image information of the plant, such as still images and videos. • the type of the last maintenance service performed on the date palm tree; • the time of the last maintenance service performed on the date palm tree; • the number of date fruit bunches previously harvested from the date palm tree; • the age of the present date fruit bunches of the date palm tree; • the number of the present date fruit bunches of the date palm tree that are ready for maintenance.

The computer compiles the received plant information to build an overview of the date palm orchard 20 in which a respective unique identifier (e.g. a serial number Tn, Ti2, ...,T35) is assigned to each date palm tree and in which each unique identifier is associated with an individual profile of each date palm tree that includes the corresponding plant information.

The overview of the date palm orchard 20 based on the compiled plant information is utilised by the server computer to determine the type and time of the next maintenance service required by each date palm tree. The steps of determining the type and time of the next maintenance service required by each date palm tree may involve reviewing the recorded image information, which provide visual information on the status of each date palm tree, using image enhancement software and/or image processing software. The recorded image information may include a 360° view of the date palm tree which could be compiled by, for example, using multiple images each of which covers a 60° view of the date palm tree.

After the type and time of the next maintenance service required by each date palm tree has been determined, the server computer arranges a maintenance schedule of the performance of the respective determined maintenance service on each plant.

It will be appreciated that, in addition or alternatively to the above operations of the control base 26, the operator 106 may manually perform the steps of determining the type and time of the next maintenance service required by each date palm tree and arranging the maintenance schedule by manually reviewing the compiled plant information.

The maintenance schedule includes the GPS coordinates of each date palm tree to indicate where the date palm service machine 22 needs to be at any given time to perform the desired determined maintenance service on a particular date palm tree. The GPS coordinates for the plurality of date palm trees are used to design a route to be followed by the transporter 24 when it transports the date palm service machine 22 around the date palm orchard 20. Preferably the maintenance schedule includes an optimal route for transporting the date palm service machine 22 to each date palm tree to minimise overall time and/or overall distance taken to transport the date palm service machine 22 around the date palm orchard 20.

The maintenance schedule may include an order of priority of performing the determined maintenance services on the respective date palm trees. The order of priority may depend on the relative importance of the determined maintenance services for different date palm trees and/or on the required timing of the respective determined maintenance service for each date palm tree. The order of priority may be displayed by the server computer using indicators such as Normal, Urgent and Very Urgent. An example of a maintenance schedule including an order of priority is shown in Figure 4.

The maintenance schedule may be arranged to optimise the order of performing the determined maintenance services on the respective date palm trees to improve the overall efficiency of the maintenance of the date palm orchard 20. For example, the order may be optimised to minimise overall time taken to perform the determined maintenance services on the respective date palm trees, maximise the quality of date fruit bunch yield harvested from the date palm trees and/or maximise the quantity of date fruit bunch yield harvested from the date palm trees.

The inclusion of the order of priority and/or the optimised order in the maintenance schedule affects the route to be followed by the transporter 24 when it transports the date palm service machine 22 around the date palm orchard 20.

The information available in the maintenance schedule may be utilised by the control base 26 to provide an estimate of the amount of time required for each maintenance service. The information available in the maintenance schedule may also be utilised by the control base 26 to provide an estimate of the amount of time and the number of date palm service machines 22 required to service the entire date palm orchard 20.

The server computer is configured to communicate wirelessly with the mobile device 102 of the date palm service machine 22. This allows the mobile device 102 to send recorded image information to the server computer, which can be used to update the individual profile of each plant. This also allows the server computer to dispatch the maintenance schedule to the mobile device 102, which can then be configured to display the maintenance schedule to the operator 106 of the date palm service machine 22. This advantageously allows the operator 106 to view the maintenance schedule even when the operator 106 and the date palm service machine 22 are located far away from the control base 26.

The aerial drone is in the form of a quadcopter. A second camera is mounted on the aerial drone, and is configured to obtain recorded image information about each date palm tree as the aerial drone is operated to fly around the date palm orchard 20. In particular, the aerial drone is dispatched to the GPS coordinates of each date palm tree to enable the second camera to obtain the recorded image information. The recorded image information about each date palm tree can be associated with the GPS coordinates when building the individual profile of each date palm tree. The second camera is configured to provide the recorded image information to the server computer via wireless communication and/or direct transfer.

The aerial drone may be used to obtain recorded image information about each date palm tree on a regular basis, e.g. every day.

After the maintenance schedule has been determined by the server computer, the operator 106 uses the mobile device 102 to review the maintenance schedule to check the determined maintenance service for a particular date palm tree, and selects the appropriate maintenance attachment for the determined maintenance service. Thereafter the operator 106 drives the transporter 24 to transport the date palm service machine 22 to the GPS coordinates of the particular date palm tree in accordance with the route and timing set out in the maintenance schedule.

After arriving at the particular date palm tree, the operator 106 then arranges the climbing mechanism 94 to grip the date palm tree before using the mobile device 102 to operate the climbing mechanism 94 to move the machine body 28 up the trunk of the date palm tree. When the machine body 28 is at the desired height, the operator 106 uses the mobile device 102 to operate the selected maintenance attachment to perform the corresponding determined maintenance service on the date palm tree as dictated by the maintenance schedule.

Figures 5 to 11 respectively show the performance of the trimming, spraying, pollination, thinning, supporting, bagging and harvesting services.

At this stage the operator 106 uses the first camera 108 to monitor the operation of the date palm service machine 22 and to obtain updated recorded image information of the date palm tree.

After completing the determined maintenance service and obtaining the updated recorded image information about the date palm tree, the operator 106 uses the mobile device 102 to operate the climbing mechanism 94 to move the machine body 28 down the trunk of the date palm tree. The operator 106 then sends the updated recorded image information to the control base 26, which then updates the individual profile for the particular date palm tree.

Additionally or alternatively the aerial drone may be operated to obtain the updated recorded image information of the date palm tree.

The operator 106 then drives the transporter 24 to transport the date palm service machine 22 to the GPS coordinates of the next date palm tree in accordance with the route and timing set out in the maintenance schedule. At this time it may be necessary to select another maintenance attachment if the next plant requires a different maintenance service.

In this manner the maintenance of the plurality of date palm trees in the date palm orchard 20 is organised in accordance with the maintenance schedule, which takes into account the plant information about each date palm tree in order to provide the plurality of date palm trees with timely and efficient maintenance. This not only ensures that each date palm tree in the orchard 20 receives the required determined maintenance service on time, thus improving the well-being of each date palm tree, thus improve yield quality and quantity, but also improves the overall efficiency of the maintenance of the plurality of date palm trees, which leads to time and cost savings.

Claims (54)

1. A method of managing the maintenance of a plurality of plants wherein the maintenance of each plant is based on a plurality of maintenance services, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing plant information about each plant of the plurality of plants; (b) determining based on the plant information which of the plurality of maintenance services is required by each plant, and determining based on the plant information when each plant requires the respective determined maintenance service; (c) based on the plant information, arranging a maintenance schedule of the performance of the respective determined maintenance service on each plant; (d) selecting, from a plurality of plant maintenance tools, the plant maintenance tool corresponding to the determined maintenance service required by each plant; and (e) operating the or each selected plant maintenance tool to perform the corresponding determined maintenance service on the corresponding plant in accordance with the maintenance schedule.

2. A method according to Claim 1 wherein the plurality of maintenance services includes at least one of: • trimming; • spraying; • crop, fruit or fruit bunch pollination; • crop or fruit bunch thinning; • crop, fruit or fruit bunch supporting; • crop, fruit or fruit bunch bagging; • crop, fruit or fruit bunch harvesting.

3. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the plant information about each plant includes at least one of: • plant type; • plant age; • location information of the plant, optionally wherein the location information includes location coordinates; • recorded image information of the plant; • the type of the last maintenance service performed on the plant; • the time of the last maintenance service performed on the plant; • the number of crops, fruits or fruit bunches previously harvested from the plant; • the age of the present crops, fruits or fruit bunches of the plant; • the number of the present crops, fruits or fruit bunches of the plant that are ready for maintenance.

4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein arranging the maintenance schedule of the performance of the respective determined maintenance service on each plant includes determining the order of priority of performing the determined maintenance services on the respective plants.

5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein arranging the maintenance schedule of the performance of the respective determined maintenance service on each plant includes optimising the order of performing the determined maintenance services on the respective plants.

6. A method according to Claim 5 wherein arranging the maintenance schedule of the performance of the respective determined maintenance service on each plant includes optimising the order of performing the determined maintenance services on the respective plants in order to: • minimise overall time taken to perform the determined maintenance services on the respective plants; • maximise the quality of crop, fruit or fruit bunch yield harvested from the plants; and/or • maximise the quantity of crop, fruit or fruit bunch yield harvested from the plants.

7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the step (b) further includes using a processor to process the plant information to: determine based on the plant information which of the plurality of maintenance services is required by each plant; to determine based on the plant information when each plant requires the respective determined maintenance service; and to arrange the maintenance schedule based on the plant information.

8. A method according to any one of the preceding claims further including the steps of: providing a plant service machine that includes a control unit; providing the plant service machine with the plurality of plant maintenance tools; and using the control unit to operate the or each selected plant maintenance tool to perform the corresponding determined maintenance service on the corresponding plant in accordance with the maintenance schedule.

9. A method according to Claim 8 wherein the control unit is a mobile device.

10. A method according to Claim 8 or Claim 9 wherein the plant service machine includes an information display unit, the method further including the step of communicating the maintenance schedule to the information display unit.

11. A method according to Claim 10 wherein the information display unit is a mobile device.

12. A method according to any one of Claims 8 to 11 wherein the plant information about each plant includes location information of the plant, and the method further includes the step of transporting the plant service machine to each plant in accordance with the maintenance schedule, wherein the maintenance schedule includes a route to be followed when transporting the plant service machine to each plant.

13. A method according to Claim 12 when dependent from Claim 4 wherein the method includes the step of transporting the plant service machine to each plant based on the determined order of priority.

14. A method according to Claim 12 or Claim 13 when dependent from either Claim 5 or Claim 6 wherein the method includes the step of transporting the plant service machine to each plant based on the optimised order.

15. A method according to any one of Claims 12 to 14 wherein the method includes the steps of: determining the optimal route for transporting the plant service machine to each plant to minimise overall time and/or overall distance taken to transport the plant service machine to each plant; and transporting the plant service machine to each plant based on the optimal route.

16. A method according to any one of Claims 12 to 15 including the steps of: providing a transporter that includes a power source; operating the transporter to transport the plant service machine to each plant in accordance with the maintenance schedule; and configuring the power source to supply power to the plant service machine.

17. A method according to Claim 16 wherein the transporter is a tractor or utility vehicle.

18. A method according to any one of Claims 8 to 17 including the step of providing a plurality of plant service machines.

19. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the plant information about each plant includes recorded image information of the plant, the method further including the step of using an image recording device to obtain the recorded image information of each plant.

20. A method according to Claim 19 wherein using an image recording device to obtain the recorded image information of each plant includes providing an aerial drone with the image recording device and operating the aerial drone.

21. A method according to Claim 19 when dependent from any one of Claims 8 to 18 wherein the method further includes the step of providing the plant service machine with the image recording device.

22. A method according to any one of the preceding claims further including the step of updating the plant information about each plant, optionally wherein updating the plant information about each plant includes updating the plant information about a given plant of the plurality of plants after performing the corresponding determined maintenance service on the given plant.

23. A method according to Claim 22 when dependent from any one of Claims 19 to 21 wherein updating the plant information about each plant includes using the image recording device to obtain updated recorded image information of each plant.

24. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each plant is a tree, and optionally wherein each tree is a date palm tree.

25. An assembly for managing the maintenance of a plurality of plants wherein the maintenance of each plant is based on a plurality of maintenance services, the plant service machine comprising: a plant service machine including a plurality of plant maintenance tools and a control unit, each plant maintenance tool corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of maintenance services; and a control base programmed to receive plant information, the control base further programmed to: determine based on plant information about each plant which of the plurality of maintenance services is required by each plant; to determine based on plant information about each plant when each plant requires the respective determined maintenance service; and to, based on the plant information, arrange a maintenance schedule of the performance of the respective determined maintenance service on each plant, wherein the control unit is configured to be usable to operate each plant maintenance tool to perform the corresponding determined maintenance service on the corresponding plant in accordance with the maintenance schedule.

26. An assembly according to Claim 25 wherein the plurality of maintenance services includes at least one of: • trimming; • spraying; • crop, fruit or fruit bunch pollination; • fruit bunch thinning; • crop, fruit or fruit bunch reclining; • crop, fruit or fruit bunch bagging; • crop, fruit or fruit bunch harvesting.

27. An assembly according to Claim 25 or Claim 26 wherein the plant information about each plant includes at least one of: • plant type; • plant age; • location information of the plant, optionally wherein the location information includes location coordinates; • recorded image information of the plant; • the type of the last maintenance service performed on the plant; • the time of the last maintenance service performed on the plant; • the number of crops, fruits or fruit bunches previously harvested from the plant; • the age of the present crops, fruits or fruit bunches of the plant; • the number of the present crops, fruits or fruit bunches of the plant that are ready for maintenance.

28. An assembly according to any one of Claims 25 to 27 wherein the control base is programmed to determine the order of priority of performing the determined maintenance services on the respective plants when arranging the maintenance schedule of the performance of the respective determined maintenance service on each plant.

29. An assembly according to any one of Claims 25 to 28 wherein the control base is programmed to optimise the order of performing the determined maintenance services on the respective plants when arranging the maintenance schedule of the performance of the respective determined maintenance service on each plant.

30. An assembly according to Claim 29 wherein the control base is programmed to optimise the order of performing the determined maintenance services on the respective plants in order to: • minimise overall time taken to perform the determined maintenance services on the respective plants; • maximise the quality of crop, fruit or fruit bunch yield harvested from the plants; and/or • maximise the quantity of crop, fruit or fruit bunch yield harvested from the plants, when arranging the maintenance schedule of the performance of the respective determined maintenance service on each plant.

31. An assembly according to any one of Claims 25 to 30 wherein the control base includes a processor configured to process the plant information to: determine based on plant information about each plant which of the plurality of maintenance services is required by each plant; to determine based on plant information about each plant when each plant requires the respective determined maintenance service; and to, based on the plant information, arrange a maintenance schedule of the performance of the respective determined maintenance service on each plant.

32. An assembly according to any one of Claims 25 to 31 wherein the control unit is a mobile device.

33. An assembly according to any one of Claims 25 to 32 wherein the plant service machine includes an information display unit, and the control base is programmed to communicate the maintenance schedule to the information display unit.

34. An assembly according to any one of Claims 25 to 33 wherein the information display unit is a mobile device.

35. An assembly according to any one of Claims 25 to 34 wherein the plant information about each plant includes location information of the plant, the assembly further includes a transporter configured to transport the plant service machine to each plant in accordance with the maintenance schedule, and the maintenance schedule includes a route to be followed when transporting the plant service machine to each plant.

36. An assembly according to Claim 35 when dependent from Claim 28 wherein the transporter is configured to transport the plant service machine to each plant based on the determined order of priority.

37. An assembly according to Claim 35 or Claim 36 when dependent from either Claim 29 or Claim 30 wherein the transporter is configured to transport the plant service machine to each plant based on the optimised order.

38. An assembly according to any one of Claims 35 to 37 wherein the control base is programmed to determine the optimal route for transporting the plant service machine to each plant to minimise overall time and/or overall distance taken to transport the plant service machine to each plant, and the transporter is configured to transport the plant service machine to each plant based on the optimal route.

39. An assembly according to any one of Claims 35 to 38 wherein the transporter includes a power source that is configured to supply power to the plant service machine.

40. A method according to Claim 39 wherein the transporter is a tractor or utility vehicle.

41. An assembly according to any one of Claims 25 to 40 wherein the assembly includes a plurality of plant service machines.

42. An assembly according to any one of Claims 25 to 41 wherein the plant information about each plant includes recorded image information of the plant, the assembly further includes an image recording device configured to obtain the recorded image information of each plant, and the image recording device is configured to provide the recorded image information to the control base.

43. An assembly according to Claim 42 wherein the image recording device is provided on an aerial drone.

44. An assembly according to Claim 42 wherein the image recording device is provided on the plant service machine.

45. An assembly according to any one of Claims 25 to 44 wherein the control base is programmed to permit updating of the plant information about each plant, and optionally wherein the control base is programmed to permit updating of the plant information about a given plant of the plurality of plants after the corresponding determined maintenance service is performed on the given plant.

46. An assembly according to Claim 45 when dependent from any one of Claims 42 to 44 wherein the image recording device is configured to obtain updated recorded image information of each plant, and the image recording device is configured to provide the updated recorded image information to the control base.

47. An assembly according to any one of Claims 25 to 46 wherein each plant is a tree, and optionally wherein each tree is a date palm tree.

48. A plant service machine for use in the maintenance of a plant, the plant service machine comprising; a machine body; and a climbing mechanism for climbing a plant, wherein the climbing mechanism includes: a plurality of rotatable rolls arranged to, in use, grip the plant; and an actuator configured to, in use, rotate each roll to move the machine body up and down the plant.

49. A plant service machine according to Claim 48 wherein each rotatable roll is ribbed and/or concave.

50. A plant service machine for use in the maintenance of a plant, the plant service machine comprising; a machine body; and a plant maintenance tool in the form of a plant trimmer, wherein the plant trimmer includes a laser configured to, in use, to trim the plant.

51. A plant service machine according to Claim 50 further including an actuator, the laser being provided on the actuator, wherein the actuator is configured to, in use, move the laser to track a path about the plant.

52. A method as substantively described herein with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

53. An assembly as substantively described herein with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

54. A plant service machine as substantively described herein with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.