This invention relates to improvements in or relating to fluid delivery, and in particular, to fluid delivery from a boat.

It is common practice to deliver chemicals to treat plants, including herbicides and/or pesticides, by using a sprayer. This is typically achieved using a hand held device whereby an operative will carry a container filled with herbicide or pesticide within a few meters of a target and manually spray the target using a hand held lance connected to the container. This practice is therefore heavily reliant on personnel accessibility to the target.

A common target for herbicide delivery is unwanted vegetation. Vegetation that has gained a foothold in the fabric of a building or structure is extremely detrimental to the integrity of the same. The ingress of the plant is destructive in itself, however voids created by the growth of vegetation also allows water into the fabric of the structure. This in turn allows freeze thaw action to occur which causes further damage over time.

The seeds that allow the spread of this kind of problem vegetation are carried on the wind or by birds and therefore ingress sites are often in very hard to reach places. In a waterway environment this is often exacerbated by the limitations associated with personnel access to the water. This means remedial works to assess and repair vegetation damage often mean exposing associated personnel to risk and can be very expensive. Real world budget and time considerations mean that remedial work to repair such damage can often get put off for long periods causing a general degradation of affected buildings and structures.

It is against this background that the present invention has arisen.

According to the present invention there is provided a boat for providing a targeted fluid spray, the boat comprising: a propulsion system configured to maneuver the boat; a container configured to receive the fluid; a spray nozzle in fluid communication with the container; wherein the spray nozzle is operatively connected to a conduit configured to adjust the direction of the spray; and a pump connected to the container and configured to eject the fluid from the container and out through the spray nozzle, in use.

Providing a boat configured to spray fluid onto a target is particularly advantageous when a target is difficult or even impossible to access via land and/or when it is not safe to do so. The boat can also be of a suitable and scalable size which that it can access targets than a human may not otherwise be able to access. For example, the device may be configured to deliver any fluid that is approved for spraying in and/or around a wet operating environment, such as a waterway (including rivers, canals, lakes and ponds); sewage pipes and systems; and factory outlet to name but a few. The fluid may be a herbicide or a pesticide. Alternatively, or in addition, the fluid may be a chemical, biocide, or paint.

Moreover, according to the present invention there is provided a boat for providing a targeted herbicide or pesticide spray, the boat comprising: a propulsion system configured to maneuver the boat; a container configured to receive the herbicide or pesticide; a spray nozzle in fluid communication with the container; wherein the spray nozzle is operatively connected to a conduit configured to adjust the direction of the spray; and a pump connected to the container and configured to eject the herbicide or pesticide from the container and out through the spray nozzle, in use.

Providing a boat configured to spray a target is particularly advantageous for delivery of a herbicide to a target in or adjacent to a water. In particular, the boat is advantageous when a target has limited access via ground, or is located within a confined space, such as beneath a bridge or culvert. The disclosed boat improves the inherent safety of the operative by reducing the risk of injury or death by removing the requirement for direct interaction and/or human access to the waterway; hence greatly reducing the risk to human life and limb. The operative may be a ground located remote operative or located in a controlled environment within the boat.

In some embodiments, there is provided a boat for providing a targeted herbicide or pesticide spray, the boat comprising: a propulsion system configured to maneuver the boat; a container configured to receive the herbicide or pesticide; a spray nozzle in fluid communication with the container, wherein the spray nozzle is connected to a conduit comprising at least two degrees of freedom configured to adjust the direction of the spray; and a pump connected to the container and configured to eject the herbicide or pesticide from the container and out through the spray nozzle, in use.

Providing at least two degrees of freedom increases the adjustability of the spray nozzle and therefore enables targets to be sprayed with greater accuracy. Further, targets in otherwise inaccessible locations may be sprayed suing this configuration.

The boat may be configured to be carried by hand. The boat may be configured to be hand carried by an operative. Alternatively, or in addition, the boat may be of a suitable size and/or weight to be hand carried by an operative. The boat may be configured to substantially fit within a volume of 5 cubic meters. In some embodiments, the boat may be configured to substantially fit within a volume of 4, 3, 2 or 1 cubic meters. In some embodiments, the boat may be configured to substantially fit within a volume of 0.5 meters cubed. In some embodiments the boat (not including the fluid to be sprayed) weighs less than 25kg. In some embodiments, the boat may weigh less than 20, 15, 10, 8, 5, 3 or 1 kg.

A boat that is suitable to be hand held allows operatives to easily transport the boat to a desired site or location. This may be done by transporting the boat in the back of a van or in a car, for example, before hand-carrying the boat to the desired location. A desired site and/or location may comprise a lake, pond, stream or river, for example. Further, in some embodiments, the limited size of the boat enables it, in use, to maneuver into small and normally inaccessible spaces, such as under rocks and branches, within culverts and beneath low lying bridges. The boat may also be suitable to operate in small water bodies, such as ponds, which other larger vessels are unsuitable for.

The conduit may be a fluid channel that provides the fluid communication between the spray nozzle and the container. The fluid channel enables the conduit to perform two functions, namely providing fluid connection between the container and the nozzle; and physically connecting the same. The number of components of the device/boat is therefore reduced and the device/boat is simplified, thus resulting in a reduced cost of production and maintenance.

The boat may comprise at least one adjustable joint connected to the conduit. The boat may further comprise at least one motorised joint connected to the conduit. The at least one adjustable joint may be motorised. The joint may comprise at least two degrees of freedom and may be configured to adjust the direction of the spray. Further, the joint may be configured to connect the conduit to a main body, wherein the main body may be referred to as a hull of the boat. Providing a joint that allows relative movement of spray nozzle with respect to the boat main body enables adjustments to be made to the spray nozzle position without having to maneuver the entire boat. The adjustments may enable the boat to spray a target in a location that may otherwise not be reachable using a fixed or rigid conduit.

The at least one adjustable joint may be configured to change the position of the spray nozzle relative to the boat main body. This enables the fluid to be accurately sprayed onto the target, hence reducing the contamination of the fluid to an area surrounding the target and reducing the volume of fluid required to be sprayed. This results in both financial and environmental benefits.

The at least one adjustable joint may be located closer to the spray nozzle than the boat main body. Locating the joint closer to the spray nozzle than the boat main body allows for small and precise adjustments of the spray nozzle position. The at least one adjustable joint may be located closer to the boat main body than the spray nozzle. Locating the joint closer to the boat main body than the spray nozzle allows for large and sweeping adjustments of the spray nozzle.

Alternatively, or in addition, the at least one adjustable joint may be located substantially equidistant from the boat main body and the spray nozzle.

The at least one adjustable joint may be two or more adjustable joints. Further, the at least one adjustable joint may comprise two adjustable joints located at opposing ends of the conduit. Two or more adjustable joints may allow for both small and large adjustments of the spray nozzle to be made, in addition to giving additional versatility as a result of the two or more locations of adjustment.

The least one joint may be configured to connect a first and second member of the conduit.

The joint may be configured to rotate 360 degrees in the horizontal plane. Rotating 360 degrees in the horizontal plane enables the boat to be positioned at any orientation in the water and still be able to spray a target on a river bank, for example. Furthermore, the joint may be configured to rotate up to 90 degrees from a substantially vertical axis. Rotating the conduit 90 degrees from a substantially vertical axis, when combined with the 360 degree rotation in the horizontal plane enables the boat to spray any target situated above water level, due to the spread of the spray. This effectively gives at least a hemispherical field of fire above the water surface.

In some embodiments, the joint may be configured to rotate up to 135 degrees from a substantially vertical axis. Rotating the conduit 135 degrees from a substantially vertical axis enables the boat to spray a target that may be below the level of the joint and/or boat main body upper surface. In some embodiments, and/or in some situations, the boat may be configured to spray a target located below the level of the water in which the vessel is situated. For example, the boat may be configured to spray a target located over the edge of a weir, cascade, waterfall and/or retaining structure such as a dam or obstacle.

In some embodiments, the at least one motorised joint may be a motorised universal joint.

The boat may comprise a main body and the spray nozzle may be located outside of the envelope of the main body. For example, the position of the spray nozzle, in use, may be located outside of and/or overhang the envelope of the main body. The position of the spray nozzle may be position up to 0.1 , 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.7, 1 , 1.5 or 2 meters outside the envelope of the boat’s main body. The main body of the boat may be the hull. Positioning the spray nozzle outside of the main body of the boat enables the device to more accurately spray a target by reducing the distance over which the fluid is required to be sprayed. Doing so may allow a target located on a river bank to be accurately sprayed. This enables the spray nozzle to be positioned closer to a target for more accurate and precise spraying in addition to being able to access and spray targets in positions that the boat cannot access easily.

Alternatively, or in addition, the spray nozzle may be located inside the envelope of the main body. Doing so provides flexibility for the boat to work in confined space wherein the boat may need to remain compact.

The conduit may comprise a first and second member that is each connected by a second joint. The second joint being configured to allow relative movement of the second member with respect to the first member. Providing a second joint that allows relative movement of the second member with respect to the first member enables adjustments to be made to the spray nozzle position without having to maneuver the boat. The adjustments may enable the device to spray a target in a location that may otherwise not be reachable using a fixed or rigid conduit. Placing the joint on the conduit also increases the versatility of the boat to spray at various angles, such as downwards and/or around corners and/or over obstacles. The second joint may be configured to allow rotation of the second member in any plane with respect to the first member, thereby providing a universal joint. Allowing the second member to rotate in any plane with respect to the first member enables the boat to spray in any direction with respect to the first member. This increases the versatility of the boat to spray at various angles, such as downwards and/or around corners and/or over obstacles.

The second joint may be a universal joint. Alternatively, or in addition, the second joint may comprise at least two degrees of freedom. Providing at least two two degrees of freedom between a first and second member of the conduit further enhances the adjustability and variability of the spray nozzle location. For example, the conduit may be able to reach over an obstacle, such as a log or rock, and still be able to positon the spray nozzle to spray in a substantially downwards direction. The conduit may also be able to reach around corners in order to spray targets not visible from the position of the boat. Further, the second joint may be configured to fold the conduit such that the overall size and/or dimensions of the boat are reduced for transportation and/or maneuverability. The versatility of the boat is therefore significantly improved.

The spray nozzle may be connected to the conduit via a third joint, wherein the third joint may comprise at least one degree of freedom. The third joint may comprise at least two or at least three degrees of freedom. Again, the provided degrees of freedom of the third join improve the versatility of the device to spray targets in inaccessible or difficult to access locations.

The boat may further comprise at least one vision system. A vision system enables the operator to view targets that may be out of the line of sight of the operator. The vision system can also record data relating to the target and allow it to be reviewed and analysed later in time. The vision system may be a surveillance camera, in particular a 360° surveillance camera, which can present the view from the boat to the operator as if the operator was on the boat. This enables the boat to maneuver and operate out of the line of sight of the operator. A 360 degree surveillance camera ensures all of the surroundings are captured and can be viewed, in real time or at a later date, hence making sure that no potential targets are missed.

Alternatively or additionally, the vision system may include one or more radar, SONAR or LIDAR sensors. The use of a radar, SONAR or LI DAR sensor enables the operator to view beneath a surface, to identify and determine the distance to a void, for example. The vision system may be mounted on the conduit or on the boat. Connecting the vision system to the conduit allows the vision system to be moved closer to a target. Conversely, providing the vision system on the boat facilitates the pilot’s control of the boat. In some embodiments, two vision systems are provided: one for the pilot, which is typically mounted on the boat itself, and one for the payload operator, which is typically mounted on the conduit. Mounting the payload vision system on the conduit is advantageous because, when the conduit has a different line of sight from the boat as a result of the first and second members being deployed at different angles, the payload operator can still be provided with visual feedback indicative of the field of fire of the sprayer. During operation, the payload operator can confirm that at least part of the target is being hit and can control the conduit to ensure that the target is fully covered during the operation.

The vision system may be protected by a protective cover will prevent the vision system from being damaged by falling debris. The cover may also be watertight to protect the vision system from environmental conditions, such as rain and/or snow, in addition to protecting the vision system, and the associated data, if the boat were to submerge or capsize.

Furthermore, the boat may comprise a main body connected to at least one outrigger. The main body may be a hull and the hull may comprise the at least one outrigger. The addition of at least one outrigger increases the stability of the boat. The outrigger may be connected to the main body via an adjustable arm that enables the position of the outrigger to be adjusted relative to the main body, hence increasing the stability or maneuverability of the boat when required. The adjustable arm may be configured to maintain the outrigger adjacent to or within the envelope of the main body. Retracting the arm, and hence withdrawing in the outrigger, to maintain the outrigger adjacent to or within the envelope of the main body enables the boat to be maneuvered through smaller spaces and hence reach targets that may otherwise not have been reachable. It also makes transportation of the boat easier. The adjustable arm may also be configured expand and/or retract based on the position of the conduit. Adjusting the position of the arm, and hence outrigger, based on the position of the conduit will decreases the likelihood of the boat becoming unstable, as the wide base provided by the combination of the main body of the boat combined with one or more outriggers in their deployed or extended position will provide sufficient stability for the position of the conduit.

The pump may be configured to produce a constant spray pattern. A constant spray pattern is advantageous in ensuring the target receives the desired amount of fluid and that the fluid is precisely delivered to the target. Alternatively, the pump may be adjustable to enable a range of targets at a variety of different distances from the boat to be hit without the boat changing position.

The conduit may further comprise a flow regulator configured to produce a constant spray pattern which is advantageous in ensuring the target receives the desired amount of fluid and that the fluid is precisely delivered to the target. Alternatively, the flow regulator may be adjustable to enable the range of the fluid being sprayed to be modified enabling the device to spray a number of different target with the boat maintaining a single vantage point.

The spray nozzle may be configured to produce a constant spray pattern which may be advantageous in ensuring the target receives the desired amount of fluid and that the fluid is precisely delivered to the target. Alternatively, the spray nozzle may be adjustable, in use. Adjusting the spray pattern, in use, enables a variety of targets to be sprayed without requiring the boat to maneuver or receive human input

The constant spray pattern may result in an effective spray range of 10mm to 5000mm away from the spray nozzle. An effective spray range of 10mm to 5000mm means that the boat can position itself in a range of locations and still be able to spray a target. In turn, this means that a more suitable boat position can be chosen when spraying a target. The effective spray range also enables targets to be sprayed that may otherwise not have been reachable, such as targets located on a river bank, for example.

The effective spray ranges may be achieved through the use of a 12 volt pump operatively connected to the container and configured to pump the fluid down the conduit, into the spray nozzle and out onto the target. Alternatively, a flow regulator may be used to adjust the effective spray range. In some embodiments of the invention, the pump and/or flow regulator control the flow rate of the fluid and the spray nozzle controls the droplet size, spread of the spray and direction of the spray.

The aforementioned control of the spray pattern enables precise, accurately and highly targeted spraying of a target to occur. For example, a target may be sprayed whilst minimizing the amount of fluid being sprayed onto surrounding or nearby objects and/or areas. Enabling the fluid to be accurately sprayed onto the target reduces the contamination of the fluid to an area surrounding the target and reduces the volume of fluid required to be sprayed. This results in both financial and environmental benefits.

The boat may be operated by a remote control. The use of a remote control to operate the boat in use is advantageous as the personnel operating the remote control (the“pilot” and “payload operator”) are able to remain on land or in a position of safety. This reduces the weight that the boat would otherwise have to carry in addition to allowing the pilot and payload operator to maintain a greater distance from a target than the boat, hence further reducing the risk of danger or contamination. The pilot and payload operator may be provided with separate remote controls. The payload operator’s remote control may be used to control the joint to provide accurate control over the direction and range of the fluid emitted from the spray nozzle. The use of a remote control to operate the joint, in use, is advantageous as the payload operator is able to remain on land or in a position of safety whilst accurately adjusting the spray nozzle position to precisely spray a target.

Furthermore, according to the present invention there is provided a method for spraying a fluid onto a target, the method comprising the steps of: providing a boat as described above, wherein the container contains a herbicide; maneuvering the boat to a position between 100mm and 5000mm from the target to be sprayed; spraying the fluid onto the target.

The target may be sprayed whilst the boat is moving with respect to the target. Allowing the boat to spray a target whilst moving enables the boat to spray a target of a size too great to be sprayed from a single stand-off position. This may reduce operation time and ensure that the entirety of the target is sprayed without missing any locations that may arise if the boat is required to move between two or more stand-off positions without spraying in between.

The method may further comprise the step of deploying at least one outrigger after the boat has been maneuvered into position and prior to spraying. The deployment of the outrigger may occur automatically in dependence on the deployment of the conduit. Automatically adjusting the outrigger based on the conduit position will ensure that the boat maintains stability at all time. The spray pattern may be adjusted during the spraying step. Remotely adjusting the spray pattern may reduce the operation time and therefore increase efficiency as a variety of targets can be sprayed without requiring direct human interaction with the device. Larger or more established targets may receive a greater flow rate of fluid or a larger droplet size compared to smaller to less or established targets, for example.

The invention will now be further and more particularly described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings; in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic of a boat according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic of the boat shown in figure 1 when viewed from above;

Figure 3 is a schematic of the boat shown in figure 1 when viewed from the side;

Figure 4 is a schematic of the boat shown in figure 1 when viewed from the front (i.e. the end nearest the spray nozzle);

Figure 5 is a schematic of a boat according to an embodiment of the present invention with two outriggers deployed;

Figure 6 is a schematic of the boat shown in figure 5 when viewed from above;

Figure 7 is a schematic of the boat shown in figure 5 when viewed from the side; and

Figure 8 is a schematic of the boat shown in figure 8 when viewed from the front (i.e. the end nearest the spray nozzle).

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a boat 10 for spraying a fluid, such as a herbicide or a pesticide, onto a target 14. Although the illustrated example will be described with reference to herbicide, the identity of the fluid to be sprayed could be any fluid, such as a herbicide or pesticide or even a combination of both. In some embodiments, not illustrated, the fluid may be a chemical, biocide or paint. The fluid may comprise chlorine. The fluid may comprise a chlorine to water ratio of up to 1500 parts per million (ppm) chlorine. In some embodiments, the chlorine to water ratio may up to 1200 or 1000 parts per million (ppm) chlorine.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 , the herbicide 12 may be in the form of a fluid, wherein the fluid may be a liquid, gel, emulsion, vapour or gas. The target 14 may be a plant, tree, flower, bush or weed. Alternatively, the target 14 may be a surface, for example a wall or the ground. The boat 10 comprises a propulsion system 11 configured to maneuver the boat 10; a container 16 configured to hold the herbicide 12; a spray nozzle 18 in fluid communication with the container 16 wherein the spray nozzle 18 is operatively connected to a conduit 24 configured to adjust the direction of the spray; and a pump 36 connected to the container 16 and configured to eject the herbicide or pesticide 12 from the container and out through the spray nozzle 18, in use.

The container 16 is configured to hold the herbicide 12 and is connected to the boat 10 via at least one retainer 20, so that the container 16 can be removed and filled or refilled and then reattached to the boat 10. The container 16 is in the form of a plastic bottle with a cap 17 for securing the fluid within the container 17. The cap 17 may be removed by an operator in order add the herbicide 12 into the container before replacing the cap 17. The retainer 20 is formed from a touch fastener such as Velcro®.

The container 16 further comprises a pump 36 configured to eject the herbicide or pesticide 12 from the container 16 and to the spray nozzle 18 at a constant rate. The pump 36 is a 12V electric pump. The pump is controlled via the remote control 50 and is configured to be adjusted, in use. The adjustments alter the rate of herbicide or pesticide 12 being ejected from the container 16.

The propulsion system 11 may take the form of one or more water jets that are submerged in the water in use, as illustrated. In an alternative embodiment, not shown in the accompanying drawings, the propulsion system may take the form of a ducted fan or other propeller that is mounted above the water level so that it provides propulsion by moving the air surrounding the boat, not the water on which the boat 10 floats.

In some embodiments, the conduit 24 comprises a flow regulator 40 configured to control the flow rate of the herbicide and hence control the spray pattern being ejected from the spray nozzle 18.

The conduit 24 connects the container 16 to the spray nozzle 18. The conduit is an elongate tube comprising a void wherein a fluid channel 26 is located. The conduit is formed from a rigid plastic, more specifically; the conduit is manufactured from carbon fibre reinforced plastic in order to improve the strength to weight ratio and reduce the deflections of the spray nozzle 18, in use. Alternatively, the conduit may be manufactured from a metal, such as aluminium. In various embodiments of the invention, the length of the conduit 24 is 100mm to 5,000mm, 250mm to 2,500mm and 500mm to 1000mm. The conduit is connected to a first joint 32. The first joint 32 is mounted on the boat and is configured rotate the conduit 24 and hence adjust the direction of the spray nozzle 18. The joint is configured to rotate 360 degrees in the horizontal plane and up to 90 degrees in any direction with respect to a substantially vertical axis.

The conduit 24 comprises a first member 28 and a second member 30 which are connected via a second joint 33. The first member 28 is in fluid communication with the container 16 and second joint 33, and provides fluid communication between the container and the second member 30. The first member is an elongate tube comprising a void wherein the fluid channel 26 is located. The second member is directly connected to the spray nozzle 18 and joint 33, and provides fluid communication between the spray nozzle 18 and the first member 28. The second member is an elongate tube comprising a void wherein the fluid channel 26 is located.

The second joint 33 connects the first member 28 and the second member 30. The joint 33 is motorised so that the operator can manoeuvre the joint using the remote control 50. When the joint 33 is manoeuvred, the second member 30 moves and rotates with respect to the first member 28. The joint 33 is configured to rotate the second member 30 in any plane with respect to the first member 28.

The second joint 33 is able to rotate the second member 30 up to 180 degrees in any plane with respect to the first member 28. Rotating the second member up to 180 degrees in any plane ensures that the spray nozzle can access all possible orientations and therefore the versatility of the device is increased. The boat will therefore have a larger choice of standoff positions when spraying a target. The boat may also be able to spray targets that are inaccessible using a device when the rotation of the second member is more restricted.

The spray nozzle 18 is manufactured from plastic and is configured to eject the herbicide 12 from the conduit 24 as a spray. The spray nozzle is adjustable, wherein the adjustments change the spray pattern of the herbicide 12 being ejected. The spray nozzle 18 is configured to alter the spray pattern by adjusting the spread, droplet size and effective spray range of the herbicide 12 being sprayed. The adjustments comprise altering the geometry of the spray nozzle 18 by replacing the spray nozzle with an alternative nozzle. The alterations to the spray nozzle are made by the operator through the use of the remote control 50. The boat 10 comprises a payload vision system 44. The payload vision system 44 is located on the conduit 24. More specifically, the payload vision system 44 is located on the second member 30 and is configured to view along the length of the second member 30 and towards the spray nozzle 12. This enables the payload operator to observe the target and the spray to confirm that the spray is hitting the target as expected. The payload vision system 44 is located on the second member 30 and configured to view the spray nozzle as this ensures that it can view the target to be sprayed. Alternatively, the spray nozzle 18 may be detachable from the conduit 24 and the vision system 44 may be secured to the conduit 24 in its place. This configuration enables the payload operator to manoeuvre the vision system 44 without need to manoeuvre the boat 10 and enables the payload vision system 44 to view targets that it may not be visible from the boat 10. Attaching the payload vision system 44 to the conduit enables a better view of targets above the water level, such as the underside of a bridge or culvert, or onto the top face of a horizontal surface located above the waterline, such as a bridge support pier or beam. The output from the payload vision system 44 may be viewed via the remote control 50 or on a separate output device, such as a computer, laptop or tablet.

An operator vision system 43 is also mounted on the boat 10. The operator vision system 43 is provided to aid the pilot of the boat 10 to understand the position and orientation of the boat 10 even when it is out of line of sight of the pilot, who may be standing on the bank some way away from the boat 10, probably in the region of the launch site of the boat 10. The operator vision system 43 is provided substantially centrally to the boat 10. The operator vision system 43 is protected by a cover. In the illustrated embodiment, the operator vision system 43 is located within a watertight dome 42 which ensures that the vision system has a hemispherical view above the water level whilst also ensuring that the vision system is protected from the surrounding environment, such as the weather and/or falling debris which may damage the vision system. In the illustrated embodiment, operator vision system 44 is a 360 degree surveillance camera.

Each of the vision systems 43, 44 may be a camera, such as a surveillance camera, 360 degree surveillance camera, infrared camera, UV camera or any other device capable of providing the functionality of a camera such as a mobile phone. The use of a camera enables the payload operator and pilot respectively to see where the device is set to spray, even when the device is out of line of sight of the operator or far away from the operator. Additionally or alternatively, at least one of the vision systems may be a radar sensor, SONAR or a LIDAR sensor. The use of a radar sensor, SONAR or LIDAR sensor enables the payload operator and/or pilot to view beneath a surface, to identify and determine the distance to a void, for example.

Figures 5 to 8 show an embodiment of the device comprising a pair of outriggers. In the embodiment shown in figures 5 to 8, the boat comprises a main body 21 and a first and second outrigger 22, 23 which are movable relative to the main body 21. The outriggers can be located adjacent to the main body when the boat is maneuvering in order to provide a streamlined profile and a narrow lateral extent enabling the boat to access otherwise inaccessible areas. In order to increase the stability of the boat during spraying, the first 22 and second 23 outriggers are configured to move relative to the main body 21 in order to increase considerably the lateral extent of the boat as a whole. The outriggers are attached to the main body via a plurality of adjustable arms 52 54 56, which are motorized and controlled by the remote control. The adjustable arms 52, 54, 56 are telescopic.

Although the functionality of the outriggers has been described above with reference to a first and second outrigger, it will be readily understood that the same principle can be implemented using any number of outriggers, such as one outrigger, or a plurality of outriggers such as 3, 4, 5, 6 or more than 6 outriggers. The provision of one outrigger on each side of the main body provides a convenient symmetry enabling the spray nozzle to be deployed directly above the main body. Furthermore, although figures 5 to 8 show a first 52, second 54 and third 56 adjustable arm for attaching the outriggers 22, 23 to the main body 21 , it will be readily understood that any number of adjustable arms may be used, such as 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or more than 6 adjustable arms.

Positioning the outriggers 22, 23 close to the main body 21 whilst the boat is maneuvering reduces the overall size of the boat, hence enabling the boat to manoeuvre more easily and navigate within and through smaller spaces than may not otherwise be feasible. Positioning the outrigger further away from the main body during spraying increase the stability of the boat and enables a greater spray range to be achieved without causing the boat to become unstable.

Alternatively, or additionally, the adjustable arm and hence each outrigger, or the outrigger where only one is provided, may be configured to deploy automatically when the conduit is manoeuvred and/or rotated. The automated deployment ensures that stability is always achieved during operation as the resultant moment created by the boat, conduit and potential spray pattern would be accounted for by the spread of the at least one outrigger. In this configuration, the outrigger’s position, relative to the main body, varies depending on the position of the conduit.

In some embodiments, not shown in the accompanying figures, the main body comprises at least two components that are configured move apart, hence splitting the main body apart, in order to increase the stability of the boat. This configuration reduces the number of components and also reduces the weight of the boat. In this embodiment, no outriggers are required as the splitting of the main body provides the additional stability that could alternatively be proved by outriggers.

In use, the operator adds herbicide 12 into the container 16 and secures the cap 17. The boat 10 is then manoeuvred to a distance of between 100mm and 5,000mm from the target 14. The operator positions the boat 10 such that the conduit 24 and hence spray nozzle 18 is pointing substantially towards the target 14. The outriggers, or the outrigger in embodiments where only one is provided, are then deployed by moving each outrigger away from the main body 21 of the boat 10.

The conduit 24 is connected to a first motorised joint 32 which is adjusted to position the spray nozzle more accurately in the direction of the target. The conduit 24 further comprises a first member 28 and a second member 30 connected via a second joint 33. The second joint 33 is motorised. The operator can rotate the second member 30 with respect to the first member 28 such that the spray nozzle 18 is precisely pointing at the target 14.

Once the spray nozzle 18 is correctly positioned, the operator instructs the device to spray the target 14 using the remote control 50. The remote control 50 causes the pump 36 to eject the herbicide or pesticide 12 from the container 16 and into the fluid channel 26 located within the conduit 24. The fluid flows through the conduit and into the spray nozzle 18 and is ejected as a spray. The spray nozzle 18 contributes to the control of the droplet size and thereby the effective spray range.