SMART Drones
UAV platform for testing new sensor technologies in precision agriculture
Funding body
University of New England, Seed Grant
Overview of project and proposed outcomes
UNE-PARG is developing a remotely-piloted aircraft (RPA) capability to support field data collection, new sensor development and image-calibration work involving satellite and aerial images. The portable, unmanned autonomous aerial vehicles (UAV's) will serve as platforms for field-testing new sensor technologies, as well as collecting crop and pasture performance data in response to spatially-variable nutrient management. UNE -PARG have two systems.
A DJI Phantom 2 is equipped with a first-person viewer (FPV) and video/still photo recording system for use as an 'eye in the sky'. A Steadi-drone QU4D-X, with an 8 kg carrying capacity and up to one hour endurance is used to deploy new biomass sensor systems for evaluation over field trials.
Project participants
University of New England
Key contact person details
Prof David Lamb, UNE-PARG 0428 886088, dlamb@une.edu.au