Agricultural Field Monitoring System: VTOL-UAV Model Design and Performance Test

Abstract:

The development of agricultural technology in Indonesia is increasingly leaning towards modern, intelligent, and precise farming methods. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have emerged as powerful tools for identifying, monitoring, and verifying agricultural land, yielding impressive results. UAV-based agricultural land monitoring has shown great potential for providing accurate assessments. This research aims to design and test an agricultural land monitoring system VTOL-UAV that utilizes for sensing and monitoring through unmanned aircraft models. The data collected from shooter camera in the form of topographic images used to analyzed agricultural land. The UAV is equipped with an automatic movement system that operates based on sensing technology. The results present the stability performance for all controlling axes is satisfactory. The recorded responses aligning closely with the desired inputs from both the user and the flight control unit which continuously worked to auto-stabilize the UAV. The vibration levels achieved lower than 50 m/s². This low level of vibration suggests that a camera or similar payload could be integrated in future versions without risking performance or stability.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volume 927)
• Pages: 81-89
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-pn1pZD
• Online since: June 2025
• Authors: Irwansyah Irwansyah*, Rizki Agam Syahputra, Farid Jayadi, T. Raden Triolan Wijaya
• Keywords: Agriculture, Monitoring System, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

References

[1] Richard K. Barnhart, et al. "Introduction to Unmanned Aircraft Systems" 3rd Ed. (2021).

[2] Austin et al. Unmanned aircraft systems : UAVS design, development and deployment. Willey, (2010).

[3] Telli, K et al., "Comprehensive Review of Recent Research Trends on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)". Systems, 11, 400, (2023).

DOI: 10.3390/systems11080400

[4] Wang, J., et al. "UAS-based remote sensing for agricultural Monitoring: Current status and perspectives", Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, vol. 227, Part 1, 2024.

[5] Rehan M, Akram F, Shahzad A, Shams TA, Ali Q. "Vertical take-off and landing hybrid unmanned aerial vehicles: An overview" The Aeronautical Journal. 126/1306,2017-2057, (2022)

DOI: 10.1017/aer.2022.29

[6] Zhou, M.J., Zhou, Z.Y., Liu, L.H., Huang, J., Lyu, Z. C. "Review of vertical take-off and landing fixed-wing UAV and its application prospect in precision agriculture." Int J Precis Agric Aviat, 3(4): 8–17, (2020).

DOI: 10.33440/j.ijpaa.20200304.130

[7] Panigrahi, S., Krishna, Y.S.S., Thondiyath, A. "Design, Analysis, and Testing of a Hybrid VTOL Tilt-Rotor UAV for Increased Endurance." Sensors, 21, 5987, (2021).

DOI: 10.3390/s21185987

[8] Ducard, G., and Allenspach, M. "Review of designs and flight control techniques of hybrid and convertible VTOL UAVs". Aerospace Science and Technology, 118, p.107035. (2021).

DOI: 10.1016/j.ast.2021.107035

[9] Rahman, Y.A.A., et al., "Design and Fabrication of Small Vertical-Take-Off-Landing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle". MATEC Web Conf., 152. (2018).

DOI: 10.1051/matecconf/201815202023

[10] Qasim, M., Susanto, E., and Wibowo, A. S. "PID control for attitude stabilization of an unmanned aerial vehicle quad-copter," 2017 5th International Conference on Instrumentation, Control, and Automation (ICA), Yogyakarta, Indonesia, pp.109-114, (2017).

DOI: 10.1109/ica.2017.8068423

[11] Abrar Istiak, Md., Mahbubul Syeed, M.M., Shakhawat Hossain, Md., Uddin, M.F., Hasan, M., Khan, R.H., Azad, N.M. "Adoption of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) imagery in agricultural management: A systematic literature review, Ecological Informatics, Vol. 78, (2023).

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoinf.2023.102305

[12] Makam, S., Komatineni, B.K., Meena, S.S. et al. "Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs): an adoptable technology for precise and smart farming." Discov Internet Things 4, 12 (2024).

DOI: 10.1007/s43926-024-00066-5

[13] Dwivedi U, Apeksha M, Komatineni BK, Vishwakarma SK, Chettri S, Gupta A. "Agriculture equipment's and smart technology." In: Futuristic trends in agriculture engineering & food sciences, vol. 3B. Chikmagalur: Iterative International Publisher, Selfypage Developers Pvt Ltd; p.107–25. (2024).

DOI: 10.58532/v3bcag14p4ch5