Mobile Hitachi Process Intelligence and UAV Control Centre Demonstration Unit

Summary

Hitachi Process Intelligence (HPI) has been recognised as one of the leading platforms to assist red meat farming operations - giving them visualisation of their entire operations on a single cloud based control centre.

The HPI mobile unit can be used for demonstration purposes on field days and an independent operational UAV control centre on remote properties. Various other programs can be integrated in the HPI platform giving the user management tools, analytics and advanced decision support.

Objectives

The main objective of this project was to develop and demonstrate a large control centre to display and increase adoption of on fam technologies of the read meat industry. It also looked at:

• the development and evaluation of a mobile demonstration unit
• the demonstration and evaluation of the large control centre at a minimum of 2 trade shows, workshops and field days, to seek feedback from red meat producers and increase the uptake and likelihood of adoption of the trial technology.

Key findings

• The Mobile Control Centre proved to be the right equipment for the Carwoola Pastoral event. Easily transportable, it had an ability to raise the entire back door enabling the demonstration of the Smart Agriculture Control Centre on a large flat screen television.
• Behind the television screen was sufficient space for the communication and computing systems as well as the for the drone control systems. As a drone (UAV) control centre it was very practical. It provided adequate storage space for the transportation of the drones with effective dampening suspension to protect the equipment.
• The control centre also provided a secure base for the many communication systems required to run safe, efficient drone operations.

Benefits to industry

The HPI Control Center and the Hitachi Eagle UAV has demonstrated its capability to improve the productivity and profitability of the Australian red meat industry. The mobile demonstration unit will attract the necessary attention at field days, workshops and trade shows giving it the status and appeal required. Being fully equipped for operational and demonstations will make it an ideal enabler of technology adoption.

MLA action

MLA is using the information from this project to inform producers on the feasibility of integrating UAVs into a multi platform data capture centre.

Future research

A cost benefit analysis of UAV use cases will help inform future research.