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Sensor Delivery in Agricultural Fields with Aerial Robots
Precision agriculture requires the collection of data with high spatial and temporal resolution through an extensive network of sensors distributed across the field. Manually placing and retrieving these sensors is time-consuming, expensive, and detrimental to crops. The objective of this thesis is to automate the delivery and collection of sensors for precision agriculture with aerial robots.
At the Environmental Robotics Laboratory, we have developed a sensor for detecting plant volatiles organic compounds (VOC), to determine whether the crop is attacked by herbivores. We are now interested in automating the deployment and collection of these sensors in maize fields. Using a drone, we want to place the sensors at the desired locations in the field and then be able to collect them once the sampling process is completed.
At the Environmental Robotics Laboratory, we have developed a sensor for detecting plant volatiles organic compounds (VOC), to determine whether the crop is attacked by herbivores. We are now interested in automating the deployment and collection of these sensors in maize fields. Using a drone, we want to place the sensors at the desired locations in the field and then be able to collect them once the sampling process is completed.
**Work packages:**
- Review state-of-the-art of sensor delivery techniques with drones.
- Define the requirements for the delivery of VOC sensors in maize fields.
- Based on the literature and requirements analysis, synthesise a strategy for sensor delivery.
- Implement the required mechanical, control, and perception system.
- Tests the and validate individual subsystems.
- Integrate the subsystems and test them together.
**Requirements**
- High motivation and interest in aerial robotics
- Background in mechanical design and/or control and perception
- Methodological and goal-oriented working behaviour
- Good communication skills
**Work packages:**
- Review state-of-the-art of sensor delivery techniques with drones.
- Define the requirements for the delivery of VOC sensors in maize fields.
- Based on the literature and requirements analysis, synthesise a strategy for sensor delivery.
- Implement the required mechanical, control, and perception system.
- Tests the and validate individual subsystems.
- Integrate the subsystems and test them together.
**Requirements**
- High motivation and interest in aerial robotics
- Background in mechanical design and/or control and perception
- Methodological and goal-oriented working behaviour
- Good communication skills
Please send a motivation statement, and a copy of your CV and transcript to Stefano Mintchev (stefano.mintchev@usys.ethz.ch) and Christian Geckeler (christian.geckeler@usys.ethz.ch).
Please send a motivation statement, and a copy of your CV and transcript to Stefano Mintchev (stefano.mintchev@usys.ethz.ch) and Christian Geckeler (christian.geckeler@usys.ethz.ch).