AI Agriculture Inspection Drones

Abstract

An agricultural inspection drone characterized by the following features: The drone body (1) comprises a lower plate (11) and an upper plate (12) arranged one above the other. The propulsion module (2) is mounted on the lower plate (11) and serves to provide the flight propulsion power. Removable visual detection unit (3); The retaining device (4) is fixed to the lower edge of the base plate (11) and serves to hold the visual detection module (3) in place and allow for its removal.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA The present utility model solution concerns the field of drone technology and specifically relates to an artificial intelligence-based agricultural inspection drone. TECHNICAL BACKGROUND In agricultural production and urban green space management, assessments of vegetation health and pest and disease risks are typically based on manual inspections. However, these methods are inefficient, have limited coverage, and are heavily dependent on subjective factors, making it particularly difficult to detect vegetative anomalies in a timely manner, especially in large areas. In some regions, fixed monitoring facilities or satellite remote sensing are used to supplement monitoring. However, installing such equipment is costly, and visibility is limited. Furthermore, satellite remote sensing has limitations regarding resolution, real-time capability, and operating costs. Therefore, we have developed an artificial intelligence-based agricultural inspection drone to solve the aforementioned problems. CONTENT OF THE PRESENT APPLICATION (1) Problems of problem solving In view of the shortcomings of existing technologies, the present utility model solution provides an artificial intelligence-based agricultural inspection drone model that solves the problems mentioned in the preceding technology: the inefficient inspection method based on human experience, the high costs of the monitoring methods, the low flexibility, and the difficulty of ensuring efficiency and accuracy simultaneously. (II) Technical solution To achieve the aforementioned objectives, the present utility model solution implements the following technical solution: An artificial intelligence-based agricultural inspection drone comprising the following components: The drone's body consists of a lower and an upper plate arranged one above the other. The propulsion module, mounted on the base plate, provides the flight thrust. Removable visual capture unit A holding device that is firmly attached to the underside of the base plate and secures the visual detection module in a way that allows it to be erased. In addition, the drone body includes several support posts that are attached between the base and the top plate and serve to connect to and support the top plate. In addition, a control panel is attached to the top of the ceiling, on which a Raspberry Pi and several function ports are integrated. In addition, the functional interface includes one or more of the following interfaces: USB, GPIO, DISPLAY, PWR, HDMI, PICAMERA, AUDIO and RJ45. Furthermore, the drive module comprises several rotor arms arranged radially on the base of the base plate. A brushless motor is located at the upper end of each rotor arm, the end furthest from the base plate. A rotor blade is attached to the output end of each motor. A battery is also installed on the top of the base plate. Furthermore, the holding device includes a support that is firmly attached to the underside of the base plate. Several lever arms are attached to this support, their upper ends connected to the support and their lower ends extending downwards. A clamping handle is attached to the lower end of each of these lever arms via a hinged connection. The holding device also includes a drive component located below the base plate, which serves to move the clamping jaws relative to the lever arm to enable holding or release. Furthermore, the drive component includes a screw column that rotates vertically in the center of the underside of the base plate. A threaded drive housing is attached to the screw column, and a number of articulated arms corresponding to the number of objects to be lifted are mounted on this housing. A connecting chain is attached to each articulated arm, the end of which furthest from the arm being connected to the corresponding clamping jaws. The clamping claws are L-shaped and connect at their corners to the lower end of the lifting arm via a hinge. On one side, they are connected to a connecting element via a hinge; on the other side, they form a clamping claw shape that holds the visual detection module. Furthermore, the visual detection module is a visible-light camera or a multispectral imaging device. (III) Beneficial effects Compared to existing technologies, the present utility model solution offers an artificial intelligence-based agricultural inspection drone with the following advantages: By integrating a drive module into the drone body, this invention enables efficient flight inspections, significantly increasing efficiency and coverage area. The optical detection system is detachable and, together with the Raspberry Pi integrated on the control board, uses image analysis to automatically detect the condition of the vegetation and mark anomalies – thus reducing reliance on human experience. Furthermore, anomalies can be precisely located and marked, facilitating targeted follow-up investigations. The mounting device consists of a support, a lever arm, a clamping handle, and a drive unit, and holds the optical detection system securely, regardless of its function.It is suitable for various application scenarios such as farmland and green spaces in industrial parks and features a diverse range of functions, ensuring high adaptability and expandability. The overall solution is characterized by its compact design and low cost, offering excellent prerequisites for widespread application and distribution. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 shows the structure of the drone body according to the present utility model solution. Fig. 2 shows the structure of the visual detection module according to the present utility model solution. Fig. 3 shows the cross-sectional views of the drone body according to the present utility model solution. Fig. 4 shows the structure of the control board according to the present utility model solution. Figure: 1. Drone body; 11. Base plate; 12. Top plate; 13. Column; 2. Drive module; 21. Rotor arm; 22. Brushless motor; 23. Rotor blade; 24. Battery; 3. Visual sensing unit; 4. Holding device; 41. Carrying rod; 42. Lever arm; 43. Gripping claws; 44. Drive component; 441. Screw housing; 442. Drive frame; 443. Articulated arm; 444. Connecting head; 5. Control board; 51. Raspberry Pi; 52. Function connectors; 521. USB connector; 522. GPIO connector; 523. Display connector; 524. Power connector; 525. HDMI connector; 526. Camera connector; 527. Audio connector; 528. RJ45 connector. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The technical solution according to the exemplary embodiments of the present utility model solution is described clearly and completely below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described exemplary embodiments represent only a portion of the possible embodiments of the present utility model solution, but not all of them. All further embodiments that a person skilled in the art develops without creative effort based on the present exemplary embodiments fall within the scope of protection of the present utility model solution. Example As shown in Fig. 1-4, an embodiment of the present utility model development comprises an artificial intelligence-based agricultural inspection drone, which includes the following components: The drone body 1 consists of a lower plate 11 and an upper plate 12, which are arranged one above the other. Located on the lower plate 11, the drive module 2 serves to provide the flight thrust. Removable visual detection unit 3; The holding device system 4 is firmly attached to the underside of the base plate 11 and serves to hold the visual detection module 3 attached and free. As shown in Fig. 1-4, in some embodiments the drone body 1 also includes several support posts 13 which are attached between the base plate 11 and the cover plate 12 and serve to connect and support the cover plate 12. The column element 13 is arranged vertically between the base plate 11 and the cover plate 12. Its lower end is rigidly connected to the base plate 11, its upper end to the cover plate 12, thus creating a rigid support structure between the two plates that unites the two layers into a single, ram-shaped casing. By connecting the base plate 11 and the top plate 12 by means of the column 13, a unified frame is formed, which increases the overall performance and stability of the aircraft frame and enables a reliable attachment for the upper control plate 5 and the lower support device 4. At the same time, the space remaining between the columns 13 can be used for cables or other equipment, making the structure more compact and improving space utilization. As shown in Fig. 1-4, in some embodiments the control plate 5 is fixed to the top of the cover plate 12, the control plate 5 integrating the Raspberry Pi 51 as well as several function ports 52. The control board 5 is attached to the top of the cover plate 12 by means of screws or clamps. The Raspberry Pi 51 is integrated on the control board 5 as the central control unit. Several function connectors 52 are arranged along the periphery of the control board 5 or on the housing of the Raspberry Pi 51 and serve for the electrical connection to the individual function modules. Integrating the Raspberry Pi 51 as a central control unit enables unified control of functions such as flight control, data acquisition, and image processing. This simplifies the system architecture and improves control efficiency and reliability. The open architecture of the Raspberry Pi 51 also allows for easy expansion of functions and algorithm updates. As shown in Fig. 1-4, in some embodiments the functional interface 52 includes one or more of the following interfaces: USB interface 521, GPIO interface 522, DISPLAY interface 523, PWR interface 524, HDMI interface 525, PICAMERA interface, AUDIO interface 527 and RJ45 interface 528. The aforementioned interfaces are mounted on circuit board 5 according to the standard pin definition and electrically connected to the corresponding pins of the Raspberry Pi 51. The USB interface 521 is used for connecting external storage or communication devices, the GPIO interface 522 for connecting various sensors, the PICAMERA interface 526 exclusively for connecting camera modules, the DISPLAY interface 523 for connecting display devices, the PWR interface 524 for power supply, the HDMI interface 525 for outputting HD videos, the AUDIO interface 527 for audio input and output, and the RJ45 interface 528 for wired network connection. The variety of interfaces allows drones to be compatible with various peripheral devices and meet connectivity requirements in different application scenarios. Users can select the appropriate functional modules depending on the task, which improves the system's expandability and general applicability. As shown in Figs. 1-4, in some embodiments the drive module 2 comprises several rotor arms 21 arranged radially on the base of the base plate 11. A brushless motor 22 is mounted at the upper end of each rotor arm 21, the end furthest from the base plate 11. A rotor blade 23 is mounted at the output end of each brushless motor 22. A battery 24 is also mounted on the top of the base plate 11. The rotor flaps 21 are radially and evenly distributed around the base plate 11. Their bases are rigidly connected to the base plate 11, while the arm body projects outwards. The brushless motor 22 is mounted at the top of the rotor flaps 21 via a motor mount, with the motor's output shaft oriented vertically upwards. The rotor blades 23 are rigidly attached to the motor output shaft. The battery 24 is mounted on the top of the base plate 11 and is electrically connected to all brushless motors 22 and the control plate 5 via a power cable. The beam-shaped arrangement ensures uniform spacing between the rotor arms 21, resulting in balanced force distribution and more stable flight. The battery 24 on the top of the base plate 11 lowers the center of gravity of the entire device, thus improving flight stability while also facilitating battery replacement. The rotor arms 21 position the motor at the outer edge of the aircraft, preventing the rotor blades 23 from contacting the drone's body 1 during rotation. As shown in Figs. 1-4, in some embodiments the holding device 4 comprises a support 41 which is fixedly attached to the lower edge of the base plate 11. Several lever arms 42 are attached to this support, their upper ends being connected to the support and their lower ends extending downwards. A clamping handle 43 is hinged to each of these lever arms. The support 41 is attached to the underside of the base plate 11 by screws and forms the basis of the holding device mechanism 4. Several lever arms 42 are arranged uniformly in a circular pattern, their tips either fixedly connected to the support 41 or formed integrally with it, while the arm body extends vertically downwards. The upper ends of the gripping claws 43 are rotatably connected to the lower ends of the lever arms 42 via a pivot axis, allowing the gripping claws 43 to pivot about the pivot point relative to the lever arms 42. The arrangement of several lever arms 42 and gripping claws 43 forms a comprehensive holding structure around the visual detection module 3, thereby stabilizing the mounting. The articulated connection allows the gripping claws 43 freedom of movement and provides the basis for future control of their movement by the drive component 44. The downward-extending lever arms 42 position the gripping claws 43 along the sides of the visual detection module 3, which facilitates the holding operation and simultaneously allows adaptation to different module specifications for mounting and installation. As shown in Fig. 1-4, in some embodiments the holding device 4 additionally includes a drive component 44, which is arranged below the base plate 11 and serves to rotate the clamping jaws 43 relative to the lever arm 42 in order to effect holding or releasing. The drive module 44 is mounted on the underside of the base plate 11 and transmits the drive force to the individual clamping claws 43 via a transmission arrangement. This rotates the clamping claws 43 around the pivot point at the lower end of the lever arm 42. The active control of the clamping claws 43 via the drive module 44 facilitates the removal and installation of the visual acquisition module 3 and increases ease of use and efficiency. This creates a technical basis that enables the drone to automatically change the visual acquisition module 3 depending on the function. As shown in Figs. 1-4, in some embodiments the drive component 44 comprises a screw column 441, which is arranged vertically and rotatably in the center of the underside of the base plate 11. A threaded drive frame 442 is attached to the screw column 441, on which a stop rod 443 is mounted, the number of which corresponds to the number of lever arms 42. Each stop rod 443 is connected to a connecting rail 444, the opposite end of which is attached to the respective clamping jaws 43. The screw column 441 is mounted vertically in the center of the underside of the base plate 11 via a bearing bracket. A threaded bore is located in the center of the drive frame 442, which interacts with the screw column 441. A number of 443 articulated arms 443 are mounted along the outer side of the drive frame 442 and connected to the lever arm 42. The two ends of the connecting chain 444 are each connected to the articulated arm 443 and the clamping jaw 43, respectively. When the screw column 441 is rotated, the drive frame 442 moves up and down along the screw column 441, thereby moving the articulated arm 443 and allowing the connecting chain 444 to rotate the clamping jaw 43 around the lower end of the lever arm 42. The guide for the screw column 441 is characterized by a simple design and smooth transmission. A single drive can synchronously control several gripping claws 43, thus ensuring the simultaneous gripping movement of all claws. The movement distance of the drive frame 442 along the screw column 441 corresponds to the opening and closing angle of the individual gripping claws 43, which facilitates control of the gripping state. As shown in Fig. 1-4, in some embodiments the clamping claw 43 is L-shaped, with its corner being supported by the lower end of the lever arm 42, one end being supported by the connecting rail 444 and the other end forming a clamping claw shape that holds the visual detection module 3. The clamp 43 has an L-shaped overall structure. A pivot hole is provided at the corner, through which it is rotatably connected to the lower end of the lever arm 42 via a screw-type pivot. At the end of one arm of the clamp 43 is a pivot hole that connects to the end of the connecting rail 444. An inner arc is attached to the other arm, forming a clamp shape. When the connecting rail 444 moves one end of the clamp 43, it rotates about the pivot at the corner, causing the clamp at the opposite end to pivot. The L-shaped design of the clamping claw 43 creates a leverage effect, thereby increasing the lever arm of the clamping force. The shape of the clamping claw perfectly matches the outer shape of the visual detection module 3, ensuring stable contact during clamping. The structure is simple and compact, which facilitates manufacturing. As shown in Fig. 1-4, the visual detection module 3 in some embodiments is a so-called visible-light camera or a multispectral imaging system. The visible-light camera has an image sensor for capturing visual images. The multispectral imaging unit contains several optical filters for different wavelength ranges as well as an image sensor for acquiring specific spectral data. Both devices are housed in a casing that corresponds to the shape of the clamp claws 43 and are electrically connected to the functional terminal 52 of the control board 5 via connecting cables. Depending on the task requirements, the user can choose between different acquisition devices. The visible-light camera is suitable for routine inspections, while the multispectral imaging unit can capture the reflectance characteristics of vegetation in different spectral wavelength ranges. This enables specialized analyses such as the calculation of vegetation indices or the detection of pests and diseases, thus strengthening the scientific basis of the inspections. The Raspberry Pi 51, integrated on the control board 5, centrally manages the drone's flight control as well as data acquisition and processing. The Raspberry Pi 51 is connected to the visual acquisition module 3 via the PICAMERA interface and to the position data acquisition module via the USB interface 521 or the GPIO interface 522, enabling real-time tracking of the drone's position during image capture. The Raspberry Pi 51's integrated data processing unit stores and processes the captured image data along with the corresponding position data, detects vegetation distribution, and highlights abnormal areas. The Raspberry Pi 51 can be connected to a display device via the DISPLAY interface 523 or to a remote terminal via a wireless network, allowing for visual representation of the analysis results.It is widely suitable for monitoring agricultural areas, maintaining green spaces in industrial areas, controlling roadside vegetation, and other applications where the condition of vegetation needs to be monitored and assessed. In summary, the integration of the drive module 2 into the drone body 1 enables efficient flight inspection, significantly increasing inspection performance and coverage area. The detachable image acquisition module 3, together with the Raspberry Pi 51 integrated on the control plate 5, analyzes images, automatically detects plant health, and highlights anomalies, thus reducing reliance on human experience. The precise localization and marking of anomalies facilitates subsequent targeted inspection. The mounting device 4, consisting of the carrier 41, the lever arm 42, the clamping handles 43, and the drive component 44, securely holds the image acquisition module 3 to support various functions.It is suitable for various application scenarios such as agriculture and green spaces in industrial parks and features a diverse functional interface 52, offering high adaptability and expandability. The overall solution is characterized by its compact design and low cost, and exhibits high potential for widespread application and distribution. Finally, it should be noted that the examples described here merely represent preferred embodiments of the present utility model solution and do not serve to limit the invention. Although the present invention has been explained in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art in the respective field may further develop the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments or replace individual technical features with equivalent alternatives. All modifications, replacement methods, or improvements that are in the spirit and according to the principles of the present invention are to be understood as falling within the scope of protection of the invention. SUMMARY This utility model solution relates to the field of drone technology and specifically to an artificial intelligence-based agricultural inspection drone. The drone consists of a lower and upper plate arranged one above the other. By integrating a drive module into the drone body, this utility model solution enables efficient flight inspections, significantly increasing efficiency and coverage area. The optical detection system is detachable and, together with the Raspberry Pi integrated on the control board, uses image analysis to automatically detect the condition of vegetation and mark anomalies – thus reducing reliance on human experience. Furthermore, anomalies can be precisely located and marked, facilitating targeted follow-up investigations.The holding device consists of a support, a lever arm, a clamping handle, and a drive system, and securely holds the optical detection system regardless of its function. It is suitable for various application scenarios, such as farmland and green spaces in industrial parks, and features a wide range of functions, ensuring high adaptability and expandability. The overall solution is characterized by its compact design and low cost, making it ideally suited for widespread application and distribution.

Claims

An agricultural inspection drone, characterized by the following features: The drone body (1) comprises a lower plate (11) and an upper plate (12) arranged one above the other. The propulsion module (2) is mounted on the lower plate (11) and serves to provide the flight propulsion power. Removable visual detection unit (3); The retaining device (4) is fixed to the lower edge of the base plate (11) and serves to hold the visual detection module (3) in place and allow for its removal. An agricultural inspection drone according to claim 1, characterized in that the drone body (1) also comprises several support posts (13) which are attached between the base plate (11) and the top plate (12) and serve to connect to and support the top plate (12). An agricultural inspection drone according to claim 2, characterized in that a control plate (5) is attached to the top of the cover plate (12), on which a Raspberry Pi (51) and several function ports (52) are integrated. An agricultural inspection drone according to claim 3, characterized in that the functional interface (52) comprises one or more of the following interfaces: USB interface (521), GPIO interface (522), DISPLAY interface (523), PWR interface (524), HDMI interface (525), PICAMERA interface (526), ​​AUDIO interface (527) and RJ45 interface (528). An agricultural inspection drone according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive module (2) comprises several rotor arms (21) arranged radially on the base of the base plate (11); a brushless motor (22) is attached to the tip of each rotor arm (21) on the side furthest from the base plate (11); a rotor blade (23) is attached to the output of each brushless motor (22); a battery (24) is also attached to the top of the base plate (11). An agricultural inspection drone according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding device (4) comprises a carrier (41) which is fixedly attached to the underside of the base plate (11); several lever arms (42) are attached to the carrier (41), the upper end of which is connected to the carrier (41) and the lower end of which is extended downwards; a gripper (43) is hingedly attached to the lower end of each lever arm (42). An agricultural inspection drone according to claim 1, characterized in that the gripping device (4) additionally comprises a drive component (44) which is arranged below the base plate (11) and serves to rotate the gripping claws (43) relative to the lever arm (42) in order to perform a gripping or release event. An agricultural inspection drone according to claim 7, characterized in that the drive component (44) comprises a screw pin (441) which is arranged vertically and rotatably on the central part of the underside of the base plate (11); a threaded drive frame (442) is attached to the screw pin (441), on which a number of articulated arms (443) are mounted, corresponding to the number of lever arms (42); a connecting chain (444) is mounted on each articulated arm (443), the end of which, which is away from the articulated arm (443), is linked to the corresponding clamping claws (43). An agricultural inspection drone according to claim 8, characterized in that the clamping claws (43) are L-shaped, at the corners of which the lower end point of the lever arm (42) is pivotally attached, one end is pivotally connected to the connecting chain (444) and the other end forms a clamping claw shape that holds the visual detection module (3). An agricultural inspection drone according to claim 1, characterized in that the visual detection module (3) is a visible light camera or a multispectral imaging device.

Images