Chapter 2 - A drone view for agriculture

Abstract

This chapter covers an introduction, types of unmanned aerial systems (UASs) and their onboard sensors, mission-planning, state-of-the-art technology used in UASs with their application in the field of precision agriculture, and future perspectives. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with various sensors, such as red–green–blue (RGB), thermal, hyperspectral, multispectral cameras, and light detection and ranging (LIDAR), have become increasingly popular in the field of agriculture. These sensors allow for the collection of detailed, high-resolution data on crop health, soil moisture, and crop yields. The RGB cameras provide a visual representation of the crops, while the thermal cameras can detect temperature differences in the plants, indicating stress or disease. Hyperspectral and multispectral cameras can detect the presence of specific chemicals in the plants, such as chlorophyll and nitrogen, and LIDAR can provide detailed information on the topography of the land, including the height of the plants. These data can be used to optimize crop yields, improve crop health, and reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers. Overall, UAVs equipped with these sensors are a valuable tool in precision agriculture, allowing for more efficient and effective crop management.