Development of an unmanned surface vehicle for autonomous navigation in a paddy field

The objective of this research was to develop an unmanned surface vehicle (USV) using global positioning system (GPS) compass for autonomous navigation in a paddy field. The surface vehicle used in the research was a radio-controlled air propeller vessel modified into an unmanned surface vehicle platform. The GPS compass was attached to the top of the USV platform as the navigation sensor to provide the position and heading angle. The USV platform can navigate automatically on predefined pathways. From the trajectory data of line-following navigation measured by a total station, the root mean square (RMS) lateral error from the target path was 0.25 m in a no-wind day. The ultimate goal of the research is to realize autonomous herbicide application and paddy growth monitoring based on the USV platform.