Development of a system for detection, control and prevention of locust pests using UAV platforms.

Abstract

The present document and project has the purpose of developing a system based on the current UAV (Unnamed Aerial Vehicle) technology with which to offer an updated tool for the fight against locust pests. Locust pests threaten agricultural resources that are the base of human and animal subsistence such as crops, grassland, and mountains. It is one of the most critical and harmful pests since they have the capacity to travel by air up to 150 km per day in addition to crossing oceans like the Atlantic. The methodology used is the use of drone platforms. This technology is proving to be one of the spearheads at the technological level in many areas, disciplines and industries thanks to its versatility and accessibility. The approach of this project is the continuation of the previous work carried out by the current co-director and supervisor of the work to obtain a more effective and vanguardist solution than the current methods to fight locust pest at the state level and offer a technology with 3 levels of service: detection, prevention and finally control. All the resources employed that encompass the development of the platforms at the technical and operational level have been provided by the company HEMAV, the operator nº1 of drones in Spain. Finally, it can be confirmed that after the update of the state of the art and the analysis of results there is a considerable leap both at the technological level and at the level of human resources in the methods currently used and the proposed solution. A new line of work and business is opened to combat pest plagues that only the legal framework and technological limitations are limiting factors