Autonomous Drone-Based Pollination System Using AI Classifier to Replace Bees for Greenhouse Tomato Cultivation

In greenhouse tomato cultivation, three primary methods of flower pollination exist: insect pollination, physical pollination by vibrating flowers, and artificial pollination using hormone-based chemicals. Insect pollination, the natural method, involves insects (e.g., honeybees) vibrating flowers t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE access 2023-01, Vol.11, p.99352-99364
Main Authors: Hiraguri, Takefumi, Shimizu, Hiroyuki, Kimura, Tomotaka, Matsuda, Takahiro, Maruta, Kazuki, Takemura, Yoshihiro, Ohya, Takeshi, Takanashi, Takuma
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
AI image classification
Artificial intelligence
Autonomous drones
Bees
Biochemistry
Classifiers
Control equipment
Cultivation
Drones
Flight control
flower search
Flowering plants
Flowers
greenhouse tomato cultivation
Greenhouses
Image classification
Insects
Machine learning
Plant reproduction
pollination
pollination control device
pollination methods
Robots
Searching
Shape
Tomatoes
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Summary:In greenhouse tomato cultivation, three primary methods of flower pollination exist: insect pollination, physical pollination by vibrating flowers, and artificial pollination using hormone-based chemicals. Insect pollination, the natural method, involves insects (e.g., honeybees) vibrating flowers to collect pollen and nectar. This paper proposes an alternate approach, using small drones to search and pollinate flowers in place of bees autonomously. We report field experiments conducted using these drone technologies. The drone must locate flowers ready for pollination. We developed an artificial intelligence (AI) image classification system (AI classifier) using machine learning to identify these flowers. Equipped with an AI classifier, the drone searches for flowers through autonomous flight and positioning technology. Upon identifying a suitable flower during its search, the drone makes contact to pollinate it. Integrating AI-based flower detection, autonomous flight control for flower search, and a pollination control device allows the drone to perform pollination. This study devises these technologies, implements them in a drone, and evaluates their effectiveness through a pollination experiment.
ISSN:2169-3536
2169-3536
DOI:10.1109/ACCESS.2023.3312151