International Scientific Journals
of Scientific Technical Union of Mechanical Engineering "Industry 4.0"

The question of application of unmanned aerial vehicles (quadrocopters or multicopters) with electric drive for long-term monitoring operations in territories with operating power system or electrified railroad transportation is considered. The disadvantage of drones of this type is the limited capacity of the on-board battery, which implies the need to recharge it, i.e. to stop the flight and return the aircraft to the base. The authors propose a constructive solution to this problem, which is based on a non-contact (induction) method of charging during the flight of an aircraft due to the energy of the electromagnetic field arising from the flow of electric current in the highvoltage wires of the power system or the contact network of railroads. For this purpose, an additional circular electric winding is installed on board the aircraft, in which an electromotive force (EMF) is induced in the electromagnetic field during flight. This EMF is used to charge the battery of the unmanned aerial vehicle. Also, in the proposed design of the unmanned aerial vehicle, solar panels are provided for recharging the batteries during the flight during daylight hours.

The research explores the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, in agriculture. It highlights the rapid advancement of drone technology, which has made high-quality drones more accessible. Historically developed for military purposes, drones now serve various civil applications, particularly in agriculture. The document categorizes drones based on their propulsion systems – rotor and fixed-wing type drones being favoured in agriculture. The agricultural benefits of drones are substantial, including precise monitoring of field conditions, targeted pest and disease control, and efficient crop management. The adoption of drone technology can lead to improved efficiency, productivity, and sustainability in agriculture. By staying informed about regulatory compliance and collaborating with technology providers, the agricultural sector can fully harness the potential of drones.

An increasing number of drones with a specific purpose are being developed globally. They are used in agriculture for crop monitoring and spraying, as well as in national defence, border control, etc. Time-consuming and expensive monitoring and tracking activities can be performed more efficiently in terms of time, cost and safety. The aim of this research is to develop an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platform equipped with onboard artificial intelligence capability for automated monitoring of roads and roadsides. Roadside monitoring is intended for road sections where the presence of a human supervisor is unreasonable or limited by safety standards. The UAV will be set to fly along a predetermined route without pilot intervention. By using machine vision, road sections where defects have appeared are identified and recorded for later human inspection. The solution developed as a result of this study can be adapted for industrial use, for example, maintenance monitoring of conveyors or large storage areas on the premises of factories.