Chapter 8

UAV Remote Sensing in Precision Agriculture

Manual or Autonomous Control Methods of UAVs

UAVs are controlled in either manual or autonomous control modes depending on the type of UAV and the mission phase. The manual approach relies on the commands given by humans in real-time by using transmitters like radio transmitters, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi. The signal from the transmitter is received by the drone's receiver, which then delivers it to the flight controller for additional processing. The autonomous approach does not depend on the human's real-time control commands but follows the pre-specified instructions given by the human in the mission planning software. The commands include path plan, speed limit, altitude range, etc. The drone operates autonomously without human intervention and does the given task by following the instructions. Many modern UAVs employ hybrid control systems, allowing operators to switch between manual and autonomous modes. This ensures flexibility for tasks that require both human oversight and automation.

Manual Control Methods

Manual control involves human operators who directly guide the UAV using a remote or other input devices. This approach requires constant attention and skill.

Autonomous Control Methods

Autonomous control allows the UAV to operate without direct human input, using pre-programmed instructions, AI algorithms, or real-time sensor data.

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