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Article
Publication date: 13 May 2021

Xuanyi Zhou, Jilin He, Dingping Chen, Junsong Li, Chunshan Jiang, Mengyuan Ji and Miaolei He

Nowadays, the global agricultural system is highly dependent on the widespread use of synthetic pesticides to control diseases, weeds and insects. The unmanned aerial vehicle…

Abstract

Purpose

Nowadays, the global agricultural system is highly dependent on the widespread use of synthetic pesticides to control diseases, weeds and insects. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is deployed as a major part of integrated pest management in a precision agriculture system for accurately and cost-effectively distributing pesticides to resist crop diseases and insect pests.

Design/methodology/approach

With multimodal sensor fusion applying adaptive cubature Kalman filter, the position and velocity are enhanced for the correction and accuracy. A dynamic movement primitive is combined with the Gaussian mixture model to obtain numerous trajectories through the teaching of a demonstration. Further, to enhance the trajectory tracking accuracy under an uncertain environment of the spraying, a novel model reference adaptive sliding mode control approach is proposed for motion control.

Findings

Experimental studies have been carried out to test the ability of the proposed interface for the pesticides in the crop fields. The effectiveness of the proposed interface has been demonstrated by the experimental results.

Originality/value

To solve the path planning problem of a complex unstructured environment, a human-robot skills transfer interface is introduced for the UAV that is instructed to follow a trajectory demonstrated by a human teacher.

Details

Assembly Automation, vol. 41 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0144-5154

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 August 2018

Shi Zheng, Zhigang Wang and Cheryl Joy Wachenheim

The purpose of this paper is to investigate factors influencing intent to adopt unmanned aerial vehicles for use in agricultural operations in Jilin Province, China.

1074

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate factors influencing intent to adopt unmanned aerial vehicles for use in agricultural operations in Jilin Province, China.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses probit analysis to estimate the influence of factors on intent to adopt unmanned aerial vehicles for plant protection application operations in Jilin Province, China based on the Technology Acceptance Model.

Findings

UAV technology is acceptable to most participating farmers. Gender (male), agricultural income ratio, understanding of new technology, perceived ease-of-use and perceived usefulness have a positive relationship with farmers’ willingness to adopt UAVs.

Practical implications

For application, crop monitoring and other farm operations, UAVs have clear advantages. There remain challenges associated with the development of applicable technology and facilitating adoption among farmers. Understanding factors affecting adoption will contribute to the latter, and brings forth the following recommendations: conduct research on the cost effectiveness of UAVs for agriculture; accelerate development of the information service system; and increase financial support.

Originality/value

This paper is among the first to consider adoption intent among Chinese farmers of use of UAVs for agricultural operations.

Details

China Agricultural Economic Review, vol. 11 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1756-137X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 August 1963

D.E.J. Cunningham

Zinc was well established as a protective coating for steel before metal spraying was introduced on a commercial scale, and it was natural that sprayed zinc should be to the fore…

Abstract

Zinc was well established as a protective coating for steel before metal spraying was introduced on a commercial scale, and it was natural that sprayed zinc should be to the fore amongst sprayed metal coatings, a position which it has never lost. During the last 15 years, wide fields of usefulness have been developed for zinc‐sprayed coatings which are often peculiar to them. Today it is rare for a decision to have to be made as to whether or not spraying or galvanizing should be used, the controlling factors in most cases being obvious. The use of zinc‐sprayed coatings on large structures, usually on site, is well known, but there has been comparatively little published information on its many other applications.

Details

Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, vol. 10 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0003-5599

Executive summary
Publication date: 19 July 2019

COLOMBIA: Bogota to push to resume glyphosate spraying

Article
Publication date: 1 March 2003

Jennifer Short and Brian H. Kleiner

Quantifies the US Federal Government’s stance on pesticides and the prosecution of the laws governing their use. Discusses the Health and Society laws regarding pesticides and the…

834

Abstract

Quantifies the US Federal Government’s stance on pesticides and the prosecution of the laws governing their use. Discusses the Health and Society laws regarding pesticides and the use of agricultural chemicals. Concludes that the USA has much to thank pesticides for, but that they are also a threat to the health and safety of people and the environment, if used indiscriminately or without control.

Details

Management Research News, vol. 26 no. 2/3/4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0140-9174

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 December 2020

Sekar Manigandan, Praveen Kumar Thaloor Ramesh, Nguyen Thuy Lan Chi and Kathirvel Brindhadevi

The focus of the current study to combat the ongoing pandemic by preventing the transmission using the Unmanned aerial vehicle system. The transmission of the COVID-19 pandemic…

Abstract

Purpose

The focus of the current study to combat the ongoing pandemic by preventing the transmission using the Unmanned aerial vehicle system. The transmission of the COVID-19 pandemic can be avoided only by finding the infectious person at the right time. Despite the thermal scanning camera and artificial intelligence technology, finding the infectious individual at many occasions has become questionable.

Design/methodology/approach

The drones are equipped with the thermal vision camera to detect the human body temperature. In addition, they are equipped with the disinfect tank to sanitize the indoor and outdoor environments based on the requirement.

Findings

Once the lockdown eased, the experts fear that the infection rate can increase in the high-density population countries such as India. The drone with thermal screening and day vision camera can detect the infection of the person without any human intervention. Further, they can also be used to disinfect the public places by aerial spraying.

Practical implications

Using the drones to monitor the work places, shopping mall and education institution to identify the mask through artificial intelligence is viable without human intervention in short span of time.

Originality/value

COVID-19 impact on the global was awful. Finding a suitable technology to combat the COVID-19 is much necessary. This conceptual study proposed to use drone technology to identify the infection at right time even on densely populated streets. Further, artificial technology can be used to detect the person who was not wearing mask. Added to above, disinfect tank can be mounted to sanitize the area in the required places.

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, vol. 93 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1748-8842

Keywords

Executive summary
Publication date: 3 March 2020

COLOMBIA: Pressure for aerial coca eradication to rise

Open Access
Book part
Publication date: 19 November 2020

Isabel Pereira and Lucía Ramírez

Colombia has been one of the main cocaine producing countries. The state’s response has been a repressive approach against the primary levels of the coca economy, such as…

Abstract

Colombia has been one of the main cocaine producing countries. The state’s response has been a repressive approach against the primary levels of the coca economy, such as cultivators and consumers. Although recent literature has documented the gendered impacts of drug policy, that is not the case for women who grow illicit crops. This chapter examines the ways drug policy has impacted women coca growers, cocaleras, in Putumayo, Colombia. Cocalero or cocalera is the term referred to rural workers dedicated to the cultivation and harvest of coca leaf. The term is a vindication from these communities, dignifying the rural activities they perform. In this chapter, we will use the term cocalera to refer to women coca growers.

From an intersectional gender perspective, the chapter explores the implications of rural life, gender, armed conflict and illegality over the trajectories of cocaleras in Putumayo, southern Colombia, a region where non-state armed actors, poverty and a precarious state presence converge. In this context, cultivating coca has become the main livelihood for rural families. It has transformed women’s roles within their communities, providing them with economic autonomy they previously did not have, but also located them in vulnerable positions. This chapter – which is an adaption from some chapters of the book ‘Voices from the coca fields: Women Building Rural Communities’ (Dejusticia, 2018 ) – is the outcome of research undertaken through in-depth interviews and social mapping exercises.

Details

The Impact of Global Drug Policy on Women: Shifting the Needle
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-83982-885-0

Book part
Publication date: 30 June 2017

Sarah Ruth Sippel, Geoffrey Lawrence and David Burch

This chapter examines the involvement of finance companies in the purchasing and leasing of Australian farmlands. This is a new global phenomenon as, in past decades, finance…

Abstract

This chapter examines the involvement of finance companies in the purchasing and leasing of Australian farmlands. This is a new global phenomenon as, in past decades, finance companies have lent money to farmers, but have rarely sought to purchase land themselves. We investigate and discuss the activities of the Hancock company – an asset management firm that invested in farmland in northern NSW. Material on the activities of Hancock and other investment firms were obtained from documents on the public record, including newspaper reports. Semi-structured interviews with community members were conducted in the region of NSW where Hancock operated. Australian agriculture is being targeted for investment by companies in the finance industry – as part of a growing ‘financialization’ of farming. While it is financially beneficial for companies to invest, they do not do so in ‘empty spaces’ but in locations where people desire to live in a healthy environment. The Hancock company was criticized by community residents for failing to recognize the concerns of local people in pursuing its farming activities. To date, there have been few studies on the financialization of farming in Australia. By investigating the operations of the Hancock company we identify a number of concerns emerging, at the community level, about an overseas company running Australian-based farms.

Content available
Article
Publication date: 1 February 2004

354

Abstract

Details

Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal, vol. 13 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0965-3562

1 – 10 of 375