SpecDoc.docx

Minimum Requirements and Specifications Remotely Piloted Aircraft System

Background Remotely piloted aircrafts (RPA), equipped with meteorological sensors multispectral/thermal imaging technology, enable for mapping of plant-available-water and crop stress in irrigated, precision agriculture systems. To better understand the spatial and temporal variability of various irrigation and nutrient management strategies, we require a system that can be readily deployed and deliver ultra-high- resolution imagery to quantify crop-water use. We require one RPA unit, which includes a drone and ancillary equipment necessary for mission planning and flight operation and fits existing sensing equipment. During each mission, the unit captures multispectral and thermal imagery at a sub-centimeter scale and collects various meteorological measurements used for atmospheric profiling across various vineyard and orchard sites. The imagery and data captured from this system will enable us to analyze energy fluxes, which improves our understanding of how irrigated agriculture systems are responding to site management decisions and environmental changes.

Specifications and Requirements

· The system must fit the requirements to fit a MicaSense Altum multispectral-thermal camera.

· The system must include adequate power capacity for multiple flights on the same day.

· Minimum flight time of 30 min.

· Minimum of 5 miles radio control.

· Minimum payload 750 g.

· The system must be compatible and communicate with 3rd party imaging sensors that collect multispectral and thermal imagery.

· The system must be compatible and communicate with 3rd party flight control systems (open- source mission planning software on android tablets).

· The system must be able to mount atmospheric condition sensors (iMet-XQ2).

· The system must be able to fly at a height of 120m and within FAA-controlled airspace.

· The system must be able to withstand adverse weather conditions (heat, moderate wind) in orchard and vineyard systems.