Exploring the Technical Advances and Limits of Autonomous UAVs for Precise Agriculture in Constrained Environments

In the field of precise agriculture with autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the utilization of drones holds significant potential to transform crop monitoring, management, and harvesting techniques. However, despite the numerous benefits of UAVs in smart farming, there are still several technical challenges that need to be addressed in order to render their widespread adoption possible, especially in constrained environments. This paper provides a study of the technical aspect and limitations of autonomous UAVs in precise agriculture applications for constrained environments

A Survey of Air-to-Ground Propagation Channel Modeling for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), particularly for small UAVs, due to their affordable prices, ease of availability, and ease of operability. Existing and future applications of UAVs include remote surveillance and monitoring, relief operations, package delivery, and communication backhaul infrastructure. Additionally, UAVs are envisioned as an important component of 5G wireless technology and beyond. The unique application scenarios for UAVs necessitate accurate air-to-ground (AG) propagation channel models for designing and evaluating UAV communication links for control/non-payload as well as payload data transmissions. These AG propagation models have not been investigated in detail when compared to terrestrial propagation models. In this paper, a comprehensive survey is provided on available AG channel measurement campaigns, large and small scale fading channel models, their limitations, and future research directions for UAV communication scenarios

Assessment of power characteristics of unmanned tractor for operations on peat fields

Received: June 1st, 2021 ; Accepted: January 3rd, 2022 ; Published: January 11th, 2022 ; Correspondence: [email protected] this article, power characteristics of a state-of-the-art unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) are characterised. It is demonstrated that in terms of power characteristics requirements, purposebuilt computer aided autonomous UGV systems are capable of replacing systems that utilise conventional tractors in peat field operations, with milled peat extraction operations as a case study. The authors demonstrate the viability of the UGV in achieving optimal mobility capabilities in operating on peatland surface. The UGV of interest was assessed for two operations of milled peat extraction: milling and harrowing. For both operations, the power consumption of the UGV and the drawbar pull of the implements (passive miller and harrower) were measured and analysed. The required drawbar pull values of the investigated implements remained in the range of 4–8 kN, which corresponded to the drawbar power of 14–36 kW. It was found that the UGV of interest is capable of carrying out milled peat operations in terms of traction capacity. However, it was found that the power supply capacity to be insufficient, thus requiring an improved solution

IMPROVING MOVEMENT OF WHEELED GROUND ROBOTS ON SLOPES USING LIDAR TECHNOLOGY: MAPPING, PLANNING, AND OPTIMIZATION

The development of wheeled ground robots has enabled them to be used for a variety of tasks. These robots must be able to move with accuracy and precision, especially when faced with obstacles or inclines. To improve the movement of these robots on a slope, lidar data can be used to detect the location and shape of obstacles. In recent years, Lidar technology has become an essential tool for various robotic applications. It has proven to be a game-changer in the field of autonomous navigation, especially in situations where robots have to operate in unknown environments. Lidar technology provides a high-resolution 3D map of the environment around the robot, enabling it to navigate autonomously while avoiding obstacles. In this paper, we discuss the use of Lidar technology in improving the movement of a wheeled ground robot on a slope. We describe the steps involved in obtaining Lidar data, processing the data to create a 3D map of the environment, and using the map to plan more efficient movement of the robot. We present an applied example of how Lidar data improves the movement of a ground robot with wheels on a slope, calculating the inclination of the ground, calculating the force required for the movement of the robot, creating three-dimensional models of the terrain to be navigated, creating plans for more efficient movement, and reducing damage and wear of the robot

A Modular Approach for a Family of Ground Mobile Robots

This paper deals with Epi.q, a family of mobile robots whose main characteristic is a wheel-legged hybrid locomotion. These multi-purpose robots can be successfully exploited for security and surveillance tasks. The document presents state of the art security robotics, the Epi.q mechanical architecture, the concept behind the robot driving unit, three prototypes and the design of a new on

A novel method of sensing and classifying terrain for autonomous unmanned ground vehicles

Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) play a vital role in preserving human life during hostile military operations and extend our reach by exploring extraterrestrial worlds during space missions. These systems generally have to operate in unstructured environments which contain dynamic variables and unpredictable obstacles, making the seemingly simple task of traversing from A-B extremely difficult. Terrain is one of the biggest obstacles within these environments as it could potentially cause a vehicle to become stuck and render it useless, therefore autonomous systems must possess the ability to directly sense terrain conditions. Current autonomous vehicles use look-ahead vision systems and passive laser scanners to navigate a safe path around obstacles; however these methods lack detail when considering terrain as they make predictions using estimations of the terrain’s appearance alone. This study establishes a more accurate method of measuring, classifying and monitoring terrain in real-time. A novel instrument for measuring direct terrain features at the wheel-terrain contact interface is presented in the form of the Force Sensing Wheel (FSW). Additionally a classification method using unique parameters of the wheel-terrain interaction is used to identify and monitor terrain conditions in real-time. The combination of both the FSW and real-time classification method facilitates better traversal decisions, creating a more Terrain Capable system

Integration of aerial and terrestrial locomotion modes in a bioinspired robotic system

In robotics, locomotion is a fundamental task for the development of high-level activities such as navigation. For a robotic system, the challenge of evading environmental obstacles depends both on its physical capabilities and on the strategies followed to achieve it. Thus, a robot with the ability to develop several modes of locomotion (walking, flying or swimming) has a greater probability of success in achieving its goal than a robot that develops only one. In nature, Hymenoptera insects use terrestrial and aerial modes of locomotion to carry out their activities. Mimicry the physical capabilities of these insects opens the possibility of improvements in the area of robotic locomotion. Therefore, this work seeks to generate a bio-inspired robotic system that integrates the terrestrial and aerial modes of locomotion. The methodology used in this research project has considered the anatomical study and characterization of Hymenoptera insects locomotion, the proposal of conceptual models that integrate terrestrial and aerial modes locomotion, the construction of a physical platform and experimental testing of the system. In addition, a gait generation approach based on an artificial nervous system of coupled nonlinear oscillators has been proposed. This approach has resulted in the generation of a coherent and functional gait pattern that, in combination with the flight capabilities of the system, has constituted an aero-terrestrial robot. The results obtained in this work include the construction of a bioinspired physical platform, the generation of the gait process using an artificial nervous system and the experimental tests on the integration of aero-terrestrial locomotion.Conacyt - Becario Naciona