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Unmanned Aircraft for Agricultural Applications (UAAA) sites.psu/uaaa

Unmanned Aircraft for Agricultural Applications (UAAA) www.sites.psu.edu/uaaa. Joe Sommer Professor of Mechanical Engineering hjs1@psu.edu. Unmanned Aircraft (UA) Platforms. Multirotor. Fixed-wing. UA versus Smart Phone. NO YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES. Cellular Network

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Unmanned Aircraft for Agricultural Applications (UAAA) sites.psu/uaaa

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  1. Unmanned Aircraft for Agricultural Applications (UAAA)www.sites.psu.edu/uaaa Joe Sommer Professor of Mechanical Engineering hjs1@psu.edu

  2. Unmanned Aircraft (UA) Platforms Multirotor Fixed-wing

  3. UA versusSmart Phone NO YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES Cellular Network Accelerometer (IMU) Gyro (IMU) Compass (IMU) GPS WiFi Camera LiPo Battery Motors and Propellors YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES NO

  4. Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) • Microelectro-mechanical systems (MEMS) • Based on air-bag technology in cars • 3 axis accelerometer • Attitude, translational motion • 3 axis gyro • Rotational speed • 3 axis magnetometer • Compass

  5. Global Positioning System (GPS) • Requires lock on multiple satellites • Typically 1 reading per second, up to 10 • Horizontal accuracy • Civilian single receiver = 3.5 m (11.5 feet) • Civilian differential DGPS < 1 m • Military DGPS = 1 cm • Altitude (not AGL) • Approximate speed and heading

  6. Wireless Communication • 2.4 GHz for UA control • Up-link to vehicle • 5.6 GHz for camera/data • Down-link from vehicle • First Person View (FPV) for camera • On-Screen Display (OSD) for data • DJI Lightbridge includes both

  7. Camera • 4K resolution = 4096 x 2160 pixels • Wide angle lens distortion • 2 axis gimbal • Stabilizes image • ±45 degrees pan (yaw) • 90 degrees tilt (pitch) • Straight down • On-board SD card

  8. Special Cameras • Normalized Difference Vegetative Index • Healthy plants absorb near infrared (NIR) • Stressed plants do not • NDVI = (NIR-red) / (NIR+red) • Thermal infrared (FLIR) • Livestock • Sonar and LIDAR

  9. LiPo Battery • High power to weight ratio • High discharge rate • Fire hazard • DO NOT DISCHARGE BELOW RECOMMENDED MINIMUM VOLTAGE !!! • Must use a charger that balances cells

  10. UA Performance • Limited flight time • Up to 25 minutes • Limited payload • Up to 2 pounds • Ability to hold station in wind • Up to 20 mph • Return to home

  11. Pre-flight Mission Planning • Satellite map • Update old maps • Waypoints and camera heading • Speed and dwell • Photo overlap • Home • Ground station • PC • Mobile apps

  12. Post-flight Processing • Show actual mission flight • Orthomosaic (stitching) • Digital Surface Map (3D) • NDVI conversion

  13. Actionable Decision • Understand images from UA • Make a decision • Take action

  14. Row Crops • RGB versus NDVI • Seedling emergence • Herbicide • Post • Fertilizer • Irrigation • Pesticide • Pre and post • Harvest maturity

  15. Other Applications • Forage/cover crops • Forage height • Inter-seeded cover • Tree crops • Orchards • Blossoms, stress, tree load • Christmas trees

  16. Other Applications • Turfgrass • Pastures, golf courses • Invasive plant species • Livestock • Fever, injury, oestrus

  17. Current FAA Policy • Hobbyist • Mandatory UA registration (>250 g) • Academy of Model Aeronautics • Public operations • Public agencies and organizations • Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) • Commercial operations • Section 333 exemption • “Blanket” COA under 200 ft AGL • Full pilot license

  18. Current FAA Policy • Take a photo of your garden with UA • Turn on sprinkler • OK because it is a hobby activity • Take a photo of your crop with UA • Turn on irrigation • Requires commercial exemption because it is a commercial activity

  19. Future FAA Policy ? • Small UAS • Proposed 2/15/2015 • Under 55 pounds • Visual line of sight (VLOS) • Daylight • Maximum 500 ft above ground level (AGL) • At least 5 miles from airport • Pilot - knowledge test, approved by TSA, obtain small UAS certificate

  20. www.sites.psu.edu/uaaa

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