Lesson 1Thermal imaging basics for plant water stress and canopy temperature readingIntroduces thermal imaging for farming, covering emissivity, calibration, and weather effects so operators can read canopy temperature patterns and spot plant water stress with steady, repeatable measures.
Emissivity, calibration, and radiometric accuracyInfluence of sun angle, wind, and humiditySetting temperature ranges and color palettesGround truthing with leaf and soil measurementsInterpreting stress maps for irrigation zonesLesson 2Payload factors: sensor weight, endurance, and trade-offsLooks at payload weight, power use, and mounting choices, showing how sensor picks affect endurance, steadiness, and data quality, and how to balance resolution, coverage, and platform limits.
Payload mass, center of gravity, and balancePower consumption and flight time impactsGimbal stabilization and vibration controlSwappable payloads for flexible missionsWeatherproofing and dust protection needsLesson 3Sensor features: RGB, multispectral (bands and bandwidths), thermal, and hyperspectral basicsExplains main features of RGB, multispectral, thermal, and hyperspectral sensors, including bands, bandwidths, resolution, and radiometric depth, and how these affect plant measures, stress spotting, and data handling complexity.
RGB sensors and true color crop assessmentMultispectral bands, bandwidths, and indicesThermal sensor resolution and NETD basicsHyperspectral cubes and narrowband analysisRadiometric resolution and bit depth effectsLesson 4Flight settings: altitude, ground sample distance (GSD), image overlap, sidelap and effects on map accuracyDescribes how altitude, GSD, front overlap, sidelap, and flight speed impact image clarity and map accuracy, and how to select settings that balance resolution, coverage, processing needs, and farm decision requirements.
Relating altitude to GSD and resolutionFront overlap, sidelap, and tie point densitySpeed, motion blur, and shutter settingsAccuracy needs for different crop decisionsConfiguring parameters in mission plannersLesson 5Common vegetation indices and required sensors (NDVI, GNDVI, NDRE, SAVI, TCARI/OSAVI)Reviews key vegetation indices like NDVI, GNDVI, NDRE, SAVI, and TCARI/OSAVI, explaining needed bands, common farm uses, and sensor choices to fit crop monitoring goals and budgets.
NDVI basics and red plus NIR requirementsGNDVI and chlorophyll sensitivityNDRE for early stress and dense canopiesSAVI and soil background correctionTCARI/OSAVI for chlorophyll estimationLesson 6Timing planning: best flight frequency linked to growth phases and irrigation eventsCovers how crop growth stages, irrigation schedules, and weather set flight times, helping define best revisit rates and time of day for steady images matching key growth and management events.
Linking crop growth stages to flight timingCoordinating flights with irrigation eventsChoosing time of day for stable lightingBalancing revisit frequency and budgetSeasonal calendars for major cropsLesson 7Pre-flight safety, regulatory checks, NOTAMs, airspace, and farm-specific permissionsDetails pre-flight safety steps, regulatory checks, NOTAM review, and airspace rules, plus farm permissions and coordination, ensuring tasks follow aviation rules and safeguard workers, gear, and crops.
Regulatory requirements and pilot recordsChecking NOTAMs and airspace classesSite surveys and obstacle identificationBriefing farm staff and bystander safetyEmergency procedures and abort criteriaLesson 8Selection guide: multirotor vs fixed-wing for 60-hectare multi-field operationsCompares multirotor and fixed-wing UAS for 60-hectare multi-field farms, focusing on coverage speed, endurance, takeoff/landing needs, and operation complexity for practical platform and fleet choices.
Coverage rate and endurance comparisonsTurnaround time and battery swap logisticsTakeoff, landing, and field access limitsWind tolerance and stability in farm windsPlatform mix strategies for multi-field workLesson 9Typical flight patterns, mission planning for centre pivots and drip zones, and battery logisticsOutlines efficient flight paths for centre pivots and drip-irrigated areas, including lawnmower and radial routes, plus battery planning, setup, and quick turnaround to keep coverage going with minimal delays.
Lawnmower patterns for rectangular fieldsRadial and spiral paths for center pivotsAdapting routes to drip and irregular plotsBattery capacity, cycles, and sparesField charging, staging, and rotation
