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Development and demonstration of a downwash-mitigating drone capable of measurement and physical manipulation in low altitude agricultural fields

Research Project

Project/Area Number 23K23729
Project/Area Number (Other) 22H02464 (2022-2023)
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)

Allocation TypeMulti-year Fund (2024)
Single-year Grants (2022-2023)
Section一般
Review Section Basic Section 41040:Agricultural environmental engineering and agricultural information engineering-related
Research InstitutionUniversity of Tsukuba

Principal Investigator

Nobuhara Hajime  筑波大学, システム情報系, 教授 (80359687)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) 山口 佳樹  筑波大学, システム情報系, 教授 (30373377)
河合 新  筑波大学, システム情報系, 助教 (40803549)
丸山 勉  筑波大学, システム情報系, 教授 (00292532)
林 久喜  筑波大学, 生命環境系, 研究員 (70251022)
Project Period (FY) 2024-04-01 – 2025-03-31
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2024)
Budget Amount *help
¥17,160,000 (Direct Cost: ¥13,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥3,960,000)
Fiscal Year 2024: ¥4,160,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥960,000)
Fiscal Year 2023: ¥6,890,000 (Direct Cost: ¥5,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,590,000)
Fiscal Year 2022: ¥6,110,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,410,000)
Keywordsドローン / スマート農業 / ダウンウォッシュ / 除草 / 画像処理 / FPGA / 流体工学 / 制御モデル / 可変ロータ機構 / ピンポイント除草 / 3次元風速計測 / 可変ローター / 精密農業 / ステレオマッチング
Outline of Research at the Start

農業分野では、ドローン自身のロータが発する下向きの強力な風(ダウンウォッシュ)が計測時の致命的な外乱となり、圃場上の2から5メートルの超低空域は、ドローンによる計測やサンプルの物理的採取等が極めて困難な未踏の領域となっている。本研究では、飛行中にロータ角度を変化させることで、超低空域を安定飛行でき、かつダウンウォッシュの影響を対象物に及ぼさないドローンを開発する。その上で、肉眼計測をはるかに凌駕するミクロンオーダー(0.1mm/画素)の画像計測、ピンポイント除草(減農薬技術)を目指した、提案ドローンと軽量アームの連動による実証を行う。

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research aimed to pioneer the unexplored domain of ultra-low altitude drone operation in agriculture. Its objectives were the development of a drone capable of stable flight free from downwash effects. First, the creation of a windless space directly beneath the aircraft was investigated using an H-frame and servo motors to alter rotor angles. Utilizing a custom-developed 3D airflow measurement system, it was confirmed that a windless space formed when rotor angles were set between 30 and 45 degrees. Next, a lightweight, practical flight-capable aircraft was implemented, featuring a mechanism that allowed for rotor angle control with a single servo motor, ensuring no center of gravity fluctuations. Indoor flight experiments demonstrated stable flight during rotor angle changes, and that at 30 degrees, the creation of a windless space prevented crops from being affected by downwash.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、ドローンがダウンウォッシュを克服し機体直下に無風空間を創出する、画期的な機体設計と制御手法を実証した。これは、ドローンと気流の新たな相互作用を確立し、「実環境エアロダイナミクス知能」創成の基礎を築く学術的意義を持つ。社会的意義としては、農業圃場の超低空域での精密作業を可能にし、環境負荷低減と生産性向上に貢献することが期待され、さらに、インフラ点検等、他分野へのドローン活用を拡大する大きな可能性を示すものである。

Report

(4 results)
  • 2024 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report ( PDF )
  • 2023 Annual Research Report
  • 2022 Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (6 results)

All 2025 2024 2023

All Journal Article (4 results) Presentation (2 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 2 results)

  • [Journal Article] Structure Selecting and Design Method for Control Systems Considering Plant’s Order Change2024

    • Author(s)
      Kubota Tatsuya、Ochiai Yuki、Hori Noriyuki、Nguyen-van Triet、Kawai Shin
    • Journal Title

      IEEE Access

      Volume: 12 Pages: 78423-78433

    • DOI

      10.1109/access.2024.3408284

    • Related Report
      2024 Annual Research Report
  • [Journal Article] FPGA-based stereo matching for crop height measurement using monocular camera2024

    • Author(s)
      Firmansyah Iman、Yamaguchi Yoshiki、Maruyama Tsutomu、Matsuura Yuta、Heming Zhang、Kawai Shin、Nobuhara Hajime
    • Journal Title

      Microprocessors and Microsystems

      Volume: 108 Pages: 105063-105063

    • DOI

      10.1016/j.micpro.2024.105063

    • Related Report
      2024 Annual Research Report
  • [Journal Article] Downwash Reduction Drone With Adaptive Rotors and Its 3D Aerodynamic Analysis and Stabilization Control2024

    • Author(s)
      Morishita Ryosuke、Kawai Shin、Nobuhara Hajime
    • Journal Title

      IEEE Access

      Volume: 12 Pages: 22832-22840

    • DOI

      10.1109/access.2024.3362639

    • Related Report
      2023 Annual Research Report
  • [Journal Article] High-precision plant height measurement by drone with RTK-GNSS and single camera for real-time processing2023

    • Author(s)
      Matsuura Yuta、Heming Zhang、Nakao Kousuke、Qiong Chang、Firmansyah Iman、Kawai Shin、Yamaguchi Yoshiki、Maruyama Tsutomu、Hayashi Hisayoshi、Nobuhara Hajime
    • Journal Title

      Scientific Reports

      Volume: 13 Issue: 1 Pages: 1-15

    • DOI

      10.1038/s41598-023-32167-6

    • Related Report
      2023 Annual Research Report 2022 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Given Data of System Requirements for Canonical Controller Design2025

    • Author(s)
      Ochiai Yuki、Nguyen-Van Triet、Kawai Shin
    • Organizer
      2025 IEEE/SICE International Symposium on System Integration (SII)
    • Related Report
      2024 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] A Method of Detecting Port Bay Numbers and Optimizing Effects Under Various Weather Scenarios2025

    • Author(s)
      Li Jiazheng、Ao Lei、Sheng Kai、Yamaguchi Yoshiki
    • Organizer
      In Proceedings of the 43rd IEEE International Conference on Consumer Electronics
    • Related Report
      2024 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research

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Published: 2022-04-19   Modified: 2026-01-16  

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