An evolution of modern irrigation implements.
As a special project during my last semester, I led a multidisciplinary team, including a mechanical engineer, a biologist, a graphic designer, and an animator, to answer the following question: How might we help farmers monitor their crops, enabling them to make timely, informed decisions about which corrective actions to take such as irrigation, and the use of herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers?
Our answer to the brief, Agriwatch, mimics nature's genius in several important ways. The imaging unit pictured above mimics the ocelli found on many arthropods to image the field in front of an irrigation pivot as it rotates. Similar to how bumblebees use UV radiation to identify pollinating plants, Agriwatch uses a combination of IR and UV sensors to map soil moisture content and plant health. The soil moisture map can be used to continuously vary water output, effectively reducing water waste while ensuring dry spots receive needed moisture. The IR and UV sensors determine plant health by identifying wilt and disease while measuring evapotranspiration. Similar technology deployed on unmanned aerial vehicles has failed to be adopted by most farmers due to high initial financial and knowledge barriers. By keeping costs low and building off of existing agricultural infrastructure, Agriwatch has a higher likelihood of penetrating the market. With further development, our team is confident that Agriwatch will enable farmers worldwide to reduce costs and water, pesticide, herbicide, and fertilizer use while increasing crop yields.