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Unmanned Ground Vehicles in Precision Farming Services: An Integrated Emulation Modelling Approach

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Information and Communication Technologies in Modern Agricultural Development (HAICTA 2017)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 953))

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Abstract

Autonomous systems are a promising alternative for safely executing precision farming activities in a 24/7 perspective. In this context Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) are used in custom agricultural fields, with sophisticated sensors and data fusion techniques for real-time mapping and navigation. The aim of this study is to present a simulation software tool for providing effective and efficient farming activities in orchard fields and demonstrating the applicability of simulation in routing algorithms, hence increasing productivity, while dynamically addressing operational and tactical level uncertainties. The three dimensional virtual world includes the field layout and the static objects (orchard trees, obstacles, physical boundaries) and is constructed in the open source Gazebo simulation software while the Robot Operating System (ROS) and the implemented algorithms are tested using a custom vehicle. As a result a routing algorithm is executed and enables the UGV to pass through all the orchard trees while dynamically avoiding static and dynamic obstacles. Unlike existing sophisticated tools, the developed mechanism could accommodate an extensive variety of agricultural activities and could be transparently transferred from the simulation environment to real world ROS compatible UGVs providing user-friendly and highly customizable navigation.

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Acknowledgements

The work was supported by the project “Research Synergy to address major challenges in the nexus: energy-environment-agricultural production (Food, Water, Materials)” - NEXUS, funded by the Greek Secretariat for Research and Technology (GSRT) – Pr. No. MIS 5002496.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Automation Engineering, Alexander Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Dimitrios Bechtsis

  2. Institute for Bio-Economy and Agri-Technology (IBO), Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), 10th Km Thessalonikis-Thermis Rd, BALKAN Center, BLDG D, 57001, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Vasileios Moisiadis & Dionysis Bochtis

  3. Centre for International Manufacturing, Institute for Manufacturing, Department of Engineering, School of Technology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    Naoum Tsolakis

  4. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Dimitrios Vlachos

Authors
  1. Dimitrios Bechtsis
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  2. Vasileios Moisiadis
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  3. Naoum Tsolakis
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  4. Dimitrios Vlachos
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  5. Dionysis Bochtis
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Correspondence to Dimitrios Bechtsis .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. TEI of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Michail Salampasis

  2. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Thomas Bournaris

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Bechtsis, D., Moisiadis, V., Tsolakis, N., Vlachos, D., Bochtis, D. (2019). Unmanned Ground Vehicles in Precision Farming Services: An Integrated Emulation Modelling Approach. In: Salampasis, M., Bournaris, T. (eds) Information and Communication Technologies in Modern Agricultural Development. HAICTA 2017. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 953. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12998-9_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12998-9_13

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-12998-9

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