title: Development and integration of a solar powered unmanned aerial vehicle and a wireless sensor network to monitor greenhouse gases.
abstract: Measuring gases for environmental monitoring is a demanding task that requires long periods of observation and large numbers of sensors. Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) currently represent the best alternative to monitor large, remote, and difficult access areas, as these technologies have the possibility of carrying specialized gas sensing systems. This paper presents the development and integration of a WSN and an UAV powered by solar energy in order to enhance their functionality and broader their applications. A gas sensing system implementing nanostructured metal oxide (MOX) and non-dispersive infrared sensors was developed to measure concentrations of CH4 and CO2. Laboratory, bench and field testing results demonstrate the capability of UAV to capture, analyze and geo-locate a gas sample during flight operations. The field testing integrated ground sensor nodes and the UAV to measure CO2 concentration at ground and low aerial altitudes, simultaneously. Data collected during the mission was transmitted in real time to a central node for analysis and 3D mapping of the target gas. The results highlights the accomplishment of the first flight mission of a solar powered UAV equipped with a CO2 sensing system integrated with a WSN. The system provides an effective 3D monitoring and can be used in a wide range of environmental applications such as agriculture, bushfires, mining studies, zoology and botanical studies using a ubiquitous low cost technology.
authors: Institute for Future Environments, School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, 3 George St, Brisbane 4000, Australia. alexander.malaverrojas@qut.edu.au.
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Malaver
authors: Institute for Future Environments, School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, 3 George St, Brisbane 4000, Australia. n.motta@qut.edu.au.
authors: Nunzio
authors: N
authors: Motta
authors: School of Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Robotics and Autonomous Systems, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4000, QLD, Australia. peter.corke@qut.edu.au.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Corke
authors: Australian Research Centre for Aerospace Automation (ARCAA), Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane Airport, QLD 4007, Australia. felipe.gonzalez@qut.edu.au.
authors: Felipe
authors: F
authors: Gonzalez
mesh_terms: D017752:Greenhouse Effect; D006801:Humans; D058998:Remote Sensing Technology; D012993:Solar Energy; D018531:Spacecraft; D059015:Wireless Technology