Drone Based Fluorescence LIDAR for Agriculture Fields in Situ Diagnostics

Ultracompact (~300 g) fluorescence LIDAR is developed to be installed on a small drone for remote sensing of agricultural fields. The LIDAR is based on a diode laser (405 nm, 150 mW) and a mini spectrometer allows reducing the device sizes and power consumptions for its placing on small aircraft drones. For field testing, the LIDAR was placed on a quadcopter for remote sensing of plants in maize field. Field testes proved the feasibility and perspectives of autonomous LIDAR sensing from drones for early detection and field locations with plants under stress.