AIR Unveils BDS-powered Automated Smart Farm in Shandong Province

A fully automated smart farm in Jiaoqiao Town, east China's Shandong Province, was completed and put into operation, according to the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) on October 23, 2024.

This milestone is part of the "BDS-powered Remote Sensing Application Pilot Program," which integrates the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) with cutting-edge aerospace information technologies across the entire agricultural process—from machinery hubs and field paths to farm operations—achieving fully automated precision in plowing, planting, management, and harvesting.

This program enables high-frequency, multi-scale agricultural monitoring and management at both the provincial and county levels. By combining the precise positioning capabilities of the BDS with high-resolution remote sensing technology, it establishes a new model for precision agriculture that enhances monitoring accuracy and operational efficiency across a wide range of farming activities.

Precision agriculture, which utilizes next-generation information technology and intelligent machinery, focuses on time- and location-specific management of farming activities. Through the BDS-powered Remote Sensing Application Pilot Program, AIR, in collaboration with over 10 domestic partners, has made significant breakthroughs in multi-source agricultural data sensing and integration, driving advancements in precision farming practices.

The combination of BDS with Tiantong—China's first mobile communications satellite system, has enabled high-precision positioning, automatic driving as well as precise operation of agricultural machinery.

The farm, covering over a thousand acres, showcases the full potential of aerospace-enabled precision agriculture through its integration with the BDS and a High-resolution Remote Sensing Comprehensive Service Platform.

A live demonstration at the farm showcased various fully automated processes, including integrated remote sensing monitoring, synchronized corn harvesting and transportation, deep plowing operations, and variable-rate wheat seeding. 

Li Zishen, a researcher at AIR and Deputy Chief Engineer of the program, highlighted that precision is the cornerstone of modern agriculture. "The high-precision spatio-temporal data provided by BDS is essential for the accurate operation of agricultural machinery, while high-resolution satellite and UAV-based remote sensing forms the foundation for precise monitoring and decision-making in agriculture. The development of this smart farm exemplifies the seamless integration of these two technology chains, driven by practical, real-world needs," Li explained. He further noted, "As a multidisciplinary, cutting-edge field, aerospace information technology has become pivotal in transforming modern agricultural productivity. We will continue to build specialized, collaborative innovation bases and promote the nationwide adoption of our latest breakthroughs."

The program is jointly launched by the Ministry of Science and Technology and Shandong Province. Leveraging the province’s diverse application scenarios, the project adopts a“technology development + industrial application”model to drive innovation and industry growth centered on BeiDou navigation and high-resolution remote sensing technologies.

Corn harvesting at the smart farm. (Image by AIR)

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