Design and Control of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Quadcopter) for Agriculture

This article presents the research results of the design, fabrication, and control of a four-rotor unmanned aerial vehicle (Quadcopter) for agricultural pesticide spraying. The linearized model of the Quadcopter system is built based on mechanical, dynamics, and aerodynamics structures. The control structure of the Quadcopter system is constructed with four components: position control, attitude control, control distribution, and motor control. Simulation results using Matlab-Simulink demonstrate that the designed controller effectively controls the parameters of the Quadcopter, including speed, tilt angle, position, and flight velocity. A physical model of the Quad-copter is designed, constructed, and installed. Preliminary experimental results show that the Quadcopter device operates well according to the control requirements, ensuring parameters such as speed, flight time, and spraying speed. Through the results of this research, the author can flexibly implement the design of other optimal control systems for quadcopter applications, aiming to improve control quality and enhance the quadcopter’s applicability in agriculture.