AUTOPILOT DRONE FOR AGRICULTURE

Abstract

This project introduces an innovative "Autopilot Drone" designed to revolutionize agricultural practices while prioritizing farmer safety. Addressing the critical shortage of farm labour, the drone is specifically engineered for autonomous fertilizer spraying, eliminating the need for manual intervention and reducing the risk of human exposure to hazardous chemicals .By leveraging GPS technology and a sophisticated sensor suite, the "Autopilot Drone" operates independently, requiring no ground control. This autonomous capability significantly enhances efficiency in various agricultural tasks, including spraying pesticides, managing crop growth, and monitoring farm operations. The drone's real-time tracking feature, accessible through a dedicated website, provides complete visibility and control over its movements, ensuring thorough coverage of the entire field .Beyond spraying, the drone empowers farmers with crop surveillance and growth monitoring capabilities, facilitating infonned decision-making and promoting healthier yields. By automating tasks such as pesticide and fertilizer application, the "Autopilot Drone" significantly improves agricultural efficiency and precision. This innovative device is a valuable asset for all types of farms, reducing the workload on farmers while maintaining cost-effectiveness. Key benefits include protecting lives, reducing manpower, lowering costs, saving time, and offering versatility across diverse agricultural practices.

Specification

We claim that the drone effectively assists in spraying pesticides, fertilizers, and sprinkling water, enhancing agricultural efficiency and precision. 2., We claim that the drone aids in crop surveillance and monitoring growth, improving ' .agricultural management and. ensuring healthier yields efficiently. 3. We claim that the autopilot drone operates independently, eliminating the heed for ground control, streamlining operations, and enhancing efficiency in agricultural tasks such as monitoring, spraying pesticides, and managing crop growth autonomously. 4. We claim that the drone's movements and covered locations can be tracked in real-time through our website, providing full visibility and control over its operations remotely.


LITERATURE SURVEY
• Prof. P. P. Mone, Chavhan Priyanka Shivaji, Jagtap Komal Tanaji. and Nimbalkar Aishwarya Satish have published a paper entitled "Agriculture Drone for Spraying Fertilizer and Pesticides." In this paper, the authors provide detailed information on the implementation of an agricultural drone with an automatic spraying mechanism. They cite a problem statement from the World Health Organization, which estimates that there are 3 million cases of pesticide poisoning each year, leading to up to 220,000 deaths, primarily in developing countries. The paper also discusses precautions that farmers should take to avoid the harmful effects of pesticides and fertilizers, and they present a cost-effective technology using readily available components. The paper is published in IJRTI, Volume 2, Issue 6, 2017.
P A I t N I
Prof. S. Meivel M.E., Dr. R. Maguteeswaran Ph.D., N. Gandhiraj B.E., and G. Srinivasan Ph.D. have published a paper entitled "Quadcopter UAV-Based Fertilizer and Pesticide Spraying System." In this paper, the authors describe the implementation of an agricultural drone. They provide details on the Quadcopter UAV and its sprayer module, as well as discuss the challenges of spraying pesticides in areas that are difficult for humans to access. The paper also covers the use of multispectral cameras to capture remote sensing images for identifying crop areas and edges. The quadcopter has a payload capacity of 8 kg, and the authors utilized QGIS software to analyse remote sensing images. This paper was published in the International Academic Research Journal of Engineering Sciences, Volume I, Issue I, February 2016

Prof. K. B. Korlahalli, Mr. Mazhar Ahmed Hangal, Mr. Nitin Jituri, Mr. Prakash Frances Rego, and Mr. Sachin M. Raykar published a paper entitled "An Automatically Controlled Drone-Based Aerial Pesticide Sprayer." In this paper, the authors detail the development of an agricultural drone system. The wireless drone is based on a flight control board (FCB), GPS, brushless DC motors, electronic speed controllers (ESCs), wireless transceivers, frames, propellers, and batteries. The flight control board manages the drone's functions, including movement, lifting, and positioning. It is programmed to handle various sensors such as GPS, barometers, accelerometers, and gyroscopes, as well as components like motors. The drone operates in two modes: manual and autonomous. This paper was published by K.L.E. Institute of Technology, Hubballi, under Project reference no.: 39S_BE_0564. • "Autonomous Drone-Based Precision Agriculture for Crop Monitoring and Yield Prediction".
Discusses how drones equipped with sensors like multispectral cameras can collect data on crop health, soil moisture, and other factors. This information can be used to optimize fertilizer and pesticide applications, leading to higher yields and reduced environmental impact. A. K. Singh, R.
Kumar, and S. K. Gupta. Agricultural Drones: Applications and Challenges (book) • "Drone-Based Early Detection of Crop Diseases Using Deep Learning", Explores the use of drones with high-resolution cameras and deep learning algorithms to identify signs of crop diseases at an early stage. This enables timely intervention, preventing significant crop losses. M.
R. Islam, M. A. Rahman, and M. H. Rahman. International Journal o f Advanced Computer Science and Applications
• "Real-Time Obstacle Avoidance and Autonomous Navigation for Agricultural Drones". Focuses bn the development of algorithms and sensor systems to enable drones to navigate autonomously in complex agricultural environments, avoiding obstacles like trees, power lines, and other drones.
J. Wang, Y. Li, and H. Zhang. IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems • . "Smart Fanning Solution Using Drones and loT". Describes how drones can be integrated with . IoT devices and sensors to create a comprehensive smart farming system. This enables reaLtime monitoring of various parameters like soil moisture, temperature, and humidity, and facilitates data-driven decision-making. A. Gupta, S..Sharma, and R. Kumar. International Journal of Engineering Research and Technology
INTRODUCTION
Agriculture plays a vital role in the global economy, providing sustenance and livelihoods for millions. However, the industry faces numerous challenges, including a persistent shortage of farm labour and the risks associated with manual pesticide application. To address these issues, this project introduces the "Autopilot Drone," a cutting-edge solution designed to automate and enhance agricultural operations.
The "Autopilot Drone" is specifically engineered for autonomous fertilizer spraying, eliminating the need for human intervention and reducing the risk of exposure to hazardous chemicals. By leveraging advanced technology, the drone offers a safer, more efficient, and cost- effective approach to agricultural tasks..


PROJECT DEFINITION
This project aims to develop an autonomous drone designed for efficient and precise spraying of fertilizers and pesticides in agricultural fields. The "Autopilot Drone" utilizes GPS technology, sensors, and a radio transmitter for autonomous navigation and data transfer, reducing the need for manual control while also offering a manual mode for specific purposes. It helps reduce labour, protects farmers from hazardous chemicals, saves time, and lowers costs. Additionally, the drone supports crop surveillance, enabling remote monitoring and early disease detection. The goal is to provide a user-friendly, cost-effective solution that enhances precision agriculture, improves farming efficiency, and promotes sustainability.
PROJECT APPLICATION
The "Autopilot Drone" is designed to be applicable across a wide range of agricultural settings, including:
• Field Crops: Cereals, legumes, oilseeds, and other row crops • Horticulture: Fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants • Livestock Farming: Pasture management and feed distribution The drone can be adapted to meet the specific needs of different farming operations by customizing its payload, spraying patterns, and autonomous navigation algorithms.
PROJECT OBJECTIVE
The main objective of the project is to design and develop an autonomous drone for precision agriculture that can spray fertilizers across fields efficiently. The drone will improve the accuracy and consistency of fertilizer application, reduce the time and labour required for manual spraying, and minimize environmental impact by reducing over-application or under-application of fertilizers. The drone will be controlled by an ESP32 flight controller and integrated with an autopilot system to navigate agricultural fields autonomously.
I Drone Design: Frame & Structure, Spraying Mechanism, Propulsion. 2. Flight Controller: Firmware & Software, Sensors & Control Systems, Communication
System.
3. Autonomous Operation: Autopilot Integration, Flight Plan, Safety Features. 4. Fertilizer Application: Precision Control, Coverage Area & Efficiency, Environmental
Considerations. 5. User Interface: Ground Control Station (GCS), Data Logging.
COMPONENTS USED
The "Autopilot Drone" is equipped with the following key components:
• Drone Platform: ' o . Motors o Propellers o Frame o Electronic Speed Controllers (ESCs) .



Autonomous Flight System: o Flight Controller o Location Sensor o Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) o Altimeter o Obstacle Avoidance Sensors • Communication and Data Management: o Radio Transmitter o Data Logging System o Ground Control Station o Surveillance System • Spraying System: o Fertilizer Tank o Spray Nozzles -- o Flow Control-Valves
1. MOTOR:
Brushless DC electric motor (BLDC motors) also known as electronic commutated motors (ECMs) synchronous motors are powered by a DC power source through an inverter 7 switching generator, generating signal AC power. '


PROPELLERS:
A propeller is a type of fan that transmits energy by converting circular motion into a thrust.-there are two types of propellers clockwise operators (CW) and anticlockwise (ACW


The drone, following a "quad-copter-* configuration (where "Quad" = four), Computer-Aided Design (CAD) was utilized to design and develop the drone frame and is . equipped with four arms made from glass Fiber material, each measuring 215mm in length.
Additionally, two hexagonal plastic plates with an edge length of 180mm and a'thickness of 2mm were employed. The chassis was supported by four legs made from bended 10mm diameter Aluminium pipes. The total height of the frame is 150mm.
Motors are mounted at the end of each arm, with propellers mechanically coupled to the motors. Each motor is. connected to an ESC, which is linked to the flight controller and power distribution board, powered by. a LiPo battery. A plastic tank was mounted under the frame for pesticide storage, and a 5V DC solenoid valve was used to Control'switching processes for the spray valve.
The ESP32 serves as the flight controller, interfacing with the MPU-9250 for motion ; measurements. The flight controller manages the drone's movement using data from the gyroscope and other sensors, providing feedback to the'ESCs to adjust the flight. A radio transmitter allows the drone to communicate with the ground station, transmitting GPS data to a web server. The flight controller uses location data to determine the drone's path.
Additionally, the drone is equipped with an ultrasonic sensor for obstacle detection, functioning similarly to a radar. • The camera module is used to captures high-resolution crops Images and stores in Data logging system. This data is used to detection disease and enhancing precision agriculture through automated surveillance and data-driven decision-making


CONCLUSION
I *
By integrating all components, we have created a drone that is convenient, economical, and user-friendly, making it accessible for farmers to handle tasks such as pesticide application. A key advantage of this project is that our drone will assist farmers in spraying fertilizers, pesticides, and crop protection products. The autopilot feature of the drone manages all inputs and outputs, ensuring better quality and precision in spraying.
Currently, the drone is focused on spraying crop protection products and also this includes crop surveillance to monitor farm health remotely, detecting diseases in crops, through a camera to support monitoring and surveillance tasks.
Looking ahead, this project has immense potential for further development, with the capacity to improve precision agriculture and farming practices. This will lead to greater efficiency, reduce labour costs, and safer farming environments.

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