Remote Data Acquisition Using UAVs and Custom Sensor Node Technology

Abstract

Precision agriculture technology has advanced rapidly in the 21st century. Despite this, the vast majority of US farmers do not employ any form of precision agriculture. Reasons for this include the high initial cost, lack of internet connectivity in rural areas, and complex setup and operation. The basis of this project was to create a low-cost, energy-efficient data collection system using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) as a mobile sink node in a local wireless system. This was accomplished through the design and manufacture of custom sensor nodes and a custom drone-mounted wireless receiver node. The sensor node and drone node enclosures were 3D printed and assembled using low-cost materials and internal components. The system was successfully tested in a field where it collected soil data, including soil moisture, soil temperature, and electrical conductivity. The cost and scalability of the system are discussed, as well as potential improvements and comparisons with existing technologies. The system was concluded to have many potential applications in its current state but with room to expand and improve its operation and features.