Lennox, Hayden (2024) Object Avoidance System Using Millimeter-Wave Technology and Machine Vision in Crop-Dusting Aircraft. [USQ Project]
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Abstract
For decades, the agricultural industry has relied heavily on crop-dusting aircraft to assist with crop protection. Crop-dusters are used due to their efficient land area coverage and the ability to not damage crops like a generic agricultural wheeled vehicle might. These aircraft can protect crops by spraying fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides and/or fungicides over a crop field.
As can be expected, there are many risks associated with using a crop-dusting aircraft. The pilots are subjected to large g-forces due to quick manoeuvres from descending, ascending, and turning at rapid speeds which can greatly accelerate fatigue. One lesser-known risk among the public is that of bird strikes. Bird strikes occur when a bird makes contact with an aircraft. This usually causes damage to the plane and in extreme cases, can cause death due to the aircraft crashing. Crop-dusting aircraft are required to fly as low as 10-15 feet and often birds or bush turkeys fly out of the field. Fatigue and foreign objects emerging from crop fields are leading causes of crop-dusting crashes. To date, there are no object avoidance systems fitted to the aircraft, and it is the pilot’s responsibility to try and identify and avoid a possible bird strike.
This research proposal will aim to investigate whether an object avoidance system will be a feasible alternative to identify and avoid bird strikes. There are three experiments that will be completed to accomplish this. This includes:
1. Object Avoidance System using Millimeter-Wave Radar Technology
2. Object Avoidance System using Machine Vision
3. Object Avoidance System using a combination of Both Machine Vision and Millimeter-Wave Radar Technology
These experiments have been proposed due to current Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) systems utilising these technologies. They have been broken into three separate tests as it is not conclusive as to whether the object avoidance system will be able to detect an object in time to avoid it. By proposing three different experiment techniques, it is expected that at least one of them will be successful. Benefits of this success may include this system being fitted to aircraft such that crop-dusting aircraft are safer to operate and will greatly reduce injury or death from bird strikes.
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| Item Type: | USQ Project |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Current – Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Engineering (1 Jan 2022 -) |
| Supervisors: | Low, Tobias |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Mechatronic) |
| Date Deposited: | 16 Mar 2026 04:32 |
| Last Modified: | 16 Mar 2026 04:32 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Crop-Dusting Aircraft; Bird Strike; Machine Vision; Millimeter-Wave Radar; Object Avoidance System |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/53132 |
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