UAV-Deployable Dart Soil Monitoring System for Agriculture in Remote Areas
Disciplines
Robotics
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Optimizing agricultural productivity requires accurate and up-to-date soil data, but many farmers continue to measure important soil parameters like pH, moisture, temperature, and salinity using outdated methods. Regular soil monitoring is impractical in remote or difficult-to-reach farming areas, making this challenge especially severe. With the global population expected to exceed 9.7 billion by 2050, precision agriculture using IoT technology is essential for ensuring long-term food security and efficient resource management. This project presents a cutting-edge IoT-enabled soil monitoring system that collects data in real-time using sensors deployed by drones. The proposed system consists of a 3D-printed aerodynamic casing with an integrated soil sensor probe, onboard microcontroller, communication module, and power supply. Similar to lawn darts, the sensors are launched from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), stabilize in flight, and embed themselves into the soil upon impact. When deployed from an optimal altitude, the sensors acquire enough momentum to penetrate the ground without the need for human intervention. Once embedded, these IoT sensors wirelessly transmit soil data to a local server via MQTT for real-time analysis. This allows farmers to access critical soil information remotely, enabling data-driven decisions for improved soil management and sustainable agricultural practices. By automating soil monitoring, this system reduces labour costs, improves efficiency, and promotes sustainable farming practices. The integration of IoT and UAV technology in soil monitoring offers a cost-effective and scalable solution, particularly for large or inaccessible farmlands. The proposed approach provides an innovative and practical solution to modern agricultural challenges, enabling farmers to maximize yield while conserving resources.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
SPCEET - Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Dr. Tanveer
UAV-Deployable Dart Soil Monitoring System for Agriculture in Remote Areas
Optimizing agricultural productivity requires accurate and up-to-date soil data, but many farmers continue to measure important soil parameters like pH, moisture, temperature, and salinity using outdated methods. Regular soil monitoring is impractical in remote or difficult-to-reach farming areas, making this challenge especially severe. With the global population expected to exceed 9.7 billion by 2050, precision agriculture using IoT technology is essential for ensuring long-term food security and efficient resource management. This project presents a cutting-edge IoT-enabled soil monitoring system that collects data in real-time using sensors deployed by drones. The proposed system consists of a 3D-printed aerodynamic casing with an integrated soil sensor probe, onboard microcontroller, communication module, and power supply. Similar to lawn darts, the sensors are launched from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), stabilize in flight, and embed themselves into the soil upon impact. When deployed from an optimal altitude, the sensors acquire enough momentum to penetrate the ground without the need for human intervention. Once embedded, these IoT sensors wirelessly transmit soil data to a local server via MQTT for real-time analysis. This allows farmers to access critical soil information remotely, enabling data-driven decisions for improved soil management and sustainable agricultural practices. By automating soil monitoring, this system reduces labour costs, improves efficiency, and promotes sustainable farming practices. The integration of IoT and UAV technology in soil monitoring offers a cost-effective and scalable solution, particularly for large or inaccessible farmlands. The proposed approach provides an innovative and practical solution to modern agricultural challenges, enabling farmers to maximize yield while conserving resources.