Design of a Low-Cost Wireless Communication System for Driving Precision Agriculture Through RTK Integration

Abstract

Precision agriculture optimizes farming practices by minimizing resource use through site-specific measurements and treatments, with georeferencing machinery playing a crucial role for precise navigation and safety. The SIRTRACK project, funded by INAIL, aims to enhance unmanned agricultural tractor safety by integrating ultra-wideband localizers, LIDARs, depth cameras, and real-time kinematics navigation systems. This multi-technology approach addresses visibility challenges in agricultural environments and improves obstacle detection by cross-verifying data from multiple sources. The paper discusses the development of a communication system critical for transmitting RTK data from a base station to agricultural vehicles in the field, ensuring accurate positioning and operational efficiency. By selecting an appropriate radio propagation model, the study aims to determine which cost-effective and reliable communication device can be used to ensure a precise vehicle navigation and a long-term project sustainability.