Robotic aircraft and intelligent surveillance systems for weed detection

Abstract

This paper presents a summary of the autonomous weed detection research and development program at the Australian Centre for Field Robotics (ACFR) over the past seven years. The ACFR has used various aerial robots on various detection and mapping projects, targeting weeds including prickly acacia (now Vachellia nilotica (L.) P.J.H.Hurter and Mabb.), parkinsonia (Parkinsonia aculeata L.), mesquite (Prosopis pallida (Willd.) Kunth), wheel cacti (Opuntia robusta J.C.Wendl. ex Pfeiff.) and salvina (Salvinia molesta D.S.Mitch.) in various parts of Australia. The algorithm research at ACFR leads to various intelligent detection and mapping software systems for accurate terrain mapping, vegetation segmentation and detection of different invasive species.