0206 Comparison of high definition Zenmuse X3 and X5 video cameras onboard unmanned aerial vehicles for future use in precision ranching. (1st October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Solecki, C. F.; Church, J. S.
• Is Part Of: Journal of animal science. Volume 94(2016)Supplement 5
• Page Start: 98
• Page End: 98
• Publication Date: 2016-10-01
• Subjects: cattle -- drone -- ear tags; Livestock -- Periodicals; Livestock; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 636.005
• DOI: 10.2527/jam2016-0206
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-8812

Abstract

Abstract: The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in agriculture to increase the efficiency of management is a new and rapidly advancing field. Being able to locate and identify cattle with UAVs would enable producers to better utilize spatiotemporal data from range livestock to better manage both livestock herds and range. UAVs provide a method of capturing aerial video observation data of cattle on extensive range that is more flexible, affordable, and safer for the pilot than traditional aircraft. In this study we used common industry cattle ear tags of two sizes (large tags = 7.5 × 5 cm, small tags = 5.5 × 3 cm) of varying colors as well as back tags (23 × 14 cm, used in behavioral studies) to assess the visual acuity of two commercially available aerial high definition cameras. The aim of this project was to assess the capabilities and limitations of these aerial cameras specifically designed for UAV use, with the goal of determining their practical use in the field as tools for observing and identifying cattle. A set of images from each camera was obtained using the DJI Inspire 1 Pro flight platform (Da-Jiang Innovations Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, China). Images were captured at an initial height of 5 m and progressing upward at 5 m intervals to 80 m above ground level (ABL). An onboard GPS module on the UAV was used to monitor and record the height of the aircraft at each interval. Recorded images were then assessed on a computer monitor to determine whether identification of numbering and lettering on the tags was possible. Through qualitative visual assessment of these aerial photographs, it was determined that the capabilities of the Zenmuse X5 were significantly superior than that of the Zenmuse X3 and will therefore be of greater use in future identification of animals using UAVs. We concluded that identification by cattle ear tags using a UAV is likely not a practical application due to the maximum ABL that is required to identify numbering and lettering on tags (15 m using the Zenmuse X5); however, identification of numbering on back tags to identify individual animals was possible up to an ABL of 70 m using the Zenmuse X5 camera.