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ARS Home » Plains Area » College Station, Texas » Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center » Aerial Application Technology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #342414
Title: Current status and future trends of precision agricultural aviation technologies

Author
item LAN, YUBIN - South China Agricultural University
item CHEN, SHENGDE - South China Agricultural University
item Fritz, Bradley - Brad

Submitted to: International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/16/2017
Publication Date: 5/30/2017
Citation: Lan, Y., Chen, S., Fritz, B.K. 2017. Current status and future trends of precision agricultural aviation technologies. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. 10(3):1-17.

Interpretive Summary: The development and use of technologies to support modern precision agricultural aviation technology is a well developed, and a continually advancing industry. Technologies such as real-time imaging and processing, variable rate spray systems, multiple sensor data fusion couple with global positioning data and unmanned systems continue to advance in capability, scope, and usage. A review of past and current technological advances is paired with a forecasting of likely future advances and trends that will continue to move the application industry forward. This review and discussion of future trends will encourage further development of precision agricultural aviation technologies.

Technical Abstract: Modern technologies and information tools can be used to maximize agricultural aviation productivity allowing for precision application of agrochemical products. This paper reviews and summarizes the state-of-the-art in precision agricultural aviation technology highlighting remote sensing, aerial spraying and ground verification technologies. Further, the authors forecast the future of precision agricultural aviation technology with key development directions in precision agricultural aviation technologies, such as real-time image processing, variable-rate spraying, multi-sensor data fusion and RTK differential positioning, and other supporting technologies for UAV-based aerial spraying. This review is expected to provide references for peers by summarizing the history and achievements, and encourage further development of precision agricultural aviation technologies.