Farmland Monitoring by Sensor Networks and Airships

This paper reports on the development of an automatic controlled airship for applications in environmental monitoring with special emphasis on precision farming. This covers direct monitoring from the air, e.g. with cameras; radar; lidar; gas, temperature, and humidity sensors. A new application area presented here is the interaction of ground based sensors with the airship. This allows wireless gathering of data even in large-scale or remote areas. Airships are combining features of planes and rotorcrafts. They allow measurements very close to the scene, they are able to carry even heavier payloads, and they can move very slowly as well as close above ground. As no dynamic force for lifting is necessary, all energy on board can be applied to movement, control electronics and sensor equipment. There are several inherent security features like low velocity, low weight, and a soft hull. In addition, active precautions for safe operation have been implemented.