Cooperative Agricultural Operations of Aerial and Ground Unmanned Vehicles

Abstract

Precision agriculture comprises a set of technologies that combines sensors, information systems, enhanced machinery, and informed management to optimize production by accounting for variability and uncertainties within agricultural systems. Autonomous ground and aerial vehicle can lead to favorable improvements in management by performing in-field tasks in a time-effective way. Greater benefits can be achieved by allowing cooperation and collaborative action among Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs). A multi-phase approach is here proposed, where each unmanned vehicle involved has been conceived and will be designed to implement innovative solutions for automated navigation and infield operations within a complex irregular and unstructured scenario as vineyards in sloped terrains.