US 11,805,726 B1
Autonomous robotic system and method for fostering controlled growth of a target C4 turf grass area
Benjamin Copeland, Jr., Fort Valley, GA (US); and Nicholas Sagnella, Charlotte, NC (US)
Assigned to SS Turf Technologies, LLC, Orangeburg, SC (US)
Filed by SS Turf Technologies, LLC, Orangeburg, SC (US)
Filed on Apr. 20, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/235,170.
Int. Cl. A01D 34/00 (2006.01); A01G 7/04 (2006.01); G05D 1/02 (2020.01); H04W 4/021 (2018.01); A01D 101/00 (2006.01)
CPC A01D 34/008 (2013.01) [A01G 7/045 (2013.01); G05D 1/0219 (2013.01); G05D 1/0223 (2013.01); G05D 1/0278 (2013.01); H04W 4/021 (2013.01); A01D 2101/00 (2013.01); G05D 2201/0208 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for fostering controlled growth of a target grass area, the method comprising:
providing an autobot capable of automatically applying a UVC light treatment to the target grass area in the absence of sunlight during evening hours, the target grass area comprising C4 turfgrass;
coupling a UVC light subsystem to the autobot such that the UVC light subsystem is suspended above the C4 turfgrass within the target grass area between about 0.5 of an inch to about 18.0 inches;
generating UVC light by the UVC light subsystem with a wavelength between about 200.0 nm and 300.0 nm;
emitting the UVC light from the UVC light subsystem to the C4 turfgrass at an intensity between about 0.5 and 300.0 Watts per square meter; and
moving the UVC light across the C4 turfgrass within the target grass area using the autobot at night at a speed between about 0.1 MPH and about 7.0 MPH, wherein the automatic UVC light applications substantially foster controlled growth of the target grass area;
wherein the C4 turfgrass comprises plants using C4 photosynthesis in which a four-carbon compound is produced without photorespiration and wherein an enzyme comprising Phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) is used during carbon fixation.