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Collaborative project: Use of autonomous drones for sustainable plant production in greenhouses. Subproject 1: Coordination (FlyingData)
Project
Project code: 2818507A18
Contract period: 01.01.2020
- 31.12.2022
Budget: 242,344 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
Keywords: crop production, digital world, sensor technology, greenhouse cultivation, protected cultivation, monitoring, resource protection, resource efficiency, horticulture
The aim of the FlyingData project (use of autonomous drones for sustainable plant production in greenhouses) is to fly autonomously (i.e., without manual control) with small drones in large greenhouses to collect sensory information. The drones are equipped with sensors that record important climate data (such as temperature, light, humidity) in greenhouses in different locations. The data is transferred to the climate computer, which can then initiate appropriate climate control measures. As a first step towards this project goal, drones must be equipped with corresponding small sensors. Furthermore, a system must be set up with which the drones can fly autonomously in the greenhouse without colliding with plants, greenhouse construction elements or installations. For this purpose, control systems, obstacle detection, path planning and start and landing scenarios must be implemented. Furthermore, an ongoing data transport from the drone to a control PC must be set up. Various approaches to control and locate the drone in the greenhouse (such as LEDs or UWB sensors) have to be implemented, tested and adapted. In all processes, the very low load of small drones and the difficult conditions (plant growth, installations, missing GPS signals) in the greenhouse must be taken into account. The work is separated into 7 interlinked work steps: 1. Definition of interfaces 2. Design of criteria catalogs for system components 3. Selection of system components: drone, sensors, data transfer and drone positioning systems 4. Investigations on position detection systems: Tests with selected drones and possible detection systems (first in the laboratory, then in the experimental greenhouses and then in the field). 5. Technical developments: A drone prototype with positioning, sensor technology, data transfer and navigation have to be designed and adapted to greenhouse conditions. 6. Data collection: The developed prototype must be tested. Physical limits of the developed system regarding accuracy, speed and precision of the data collection, collision probability are quantified. 7. Information exchange, cooperation, documentation, publication.
Section overview
Subjects
- Horticulture
- Resource management
- Climate Change
- Computer science
