Real-time agricultural field monitoring with UAV-UGV integration
This solution integrates UAVs and UGVs for scalable, precise real-time agricultural field monitoring and management, enhancing efficiency and reducing chemical use. Ideal for greenhouse settings, it leverages advanced robotics and machine learning for optimal results.
Overview
This innovative solution combines unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) to create a scalable, precise real-time monitoring and management system for agricultural fields, specifically in indoor greenhouse environments. By utilizing global data from these cooperative vehicles, the system dynamically optimizes mission strategies, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing the reliance on herbicides by over 95%. This solution is designed to improve crop monitoring accuracy and efficiency, leveraging advanced robotics, sensors, and machine learning technologies.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- Integration of UAVs and lightweight, mobile UGVs for comprehensive field coverage
- Advanced robotics and machine learning (ML) for improved crop monitoring and disease detection
- Multi-agent coordination and real-time scheduling for seamless UGV operations
- Efficient ML and hardware-software co-design to manage computing, storage, and energy resources effectively
- Proven prototypes with superior energy efficiency and detection accuracy, validated in various environments
Technology readiness level
The technology is currently at TRL 4, having been validated in a laboratory environment. Future development will focus on addressing challenges such as onboard computing limitations, multi-agent coordination, and autonomous operation in diverse greenhouse settings. Further validation and evaluation will be conducted to enhance system-level performance.
About North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University is a large, comprehensive public land‑grant research university in Raleigh. Its on‑campus research and technology park co‑locates corporate R&D groups, government partners, and faculty labs, enabling shared facilities, prototyping, and agile contracting. Located in North Carolina’s Research Triangle, partners tap a dense regional ecosystem while engaging through a statewide extension network and a mature co‑op program that deliver field deployment and workforce pipelines. Multiple pilot and demonstration facilities support scale‑up and validation toward pre‑commercial readiness. Research is supported by competitive funding from major federal agencies, including NSF, USDA, DOE, and DOD, and a dedicated technology transfer office with clear IP pathways helps accelerate commercialization.
delivered to your inbox.