The substantiation of the parameters of an unmanned system for automated monitoring of animals on pasture

The research provides the substantiation of the main parameters of an unmanned automated herd monitoring system on a pasture by automating the measurement of current physiological indicators of animals to improve the efficiency and rate of supervision over them in free grazing conditions. The studies were based on the theory of radio communication about the propagation of radio waves, and also there was used a graphoanalytic method for calculating the parameters of component elements as parts of an unmanned system for automated monitoring of animals on pasture. The DJI Phantom 4 Advanced quadcopter was used to measure the flight time of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over the real pasture. As a payload, the weight of 350 g was taken. As a pasture, the experimental field at the farm “Kutuzovka”, Kharkiv district, Kharkiv region with an area of 200 ha was used. The research was carried out in summer 2021. According to the results of well-known studies of the processes, methods and technical means of monitoring the physiological state of animals on pasture, it has been established that the advanced technological means including air-based devices should be used for remote monitoring. Among them are helicopter-type unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as elements of the radio telemetry system (RTM), individual tags and sensors of the physiological parameters of the animal. At the same time, an unmanned automated monitoring system in combination with RTM elements is able to provide the transmission of physiological data from any sensors located on the animal's body or inside it. The data are transmitted to the main point of receiving information for processing it on a PC and giving recommendations to specialists (veterinarians, zootechnicians, etc.). The power of the relay equipment on board the UAV is calculated to be at least 60 mW and the communication range with the animal transponder not more than 800 m. The main parameters of the UAV flight over a pasture of 200 hectares have been experimentally established – the height is 20 m, the speed is 8.7 km/h, the time is 27.5 min, the payload is 350 g.

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