A new project in the Philippines has created a system for automated crop disease detection.
Supported by funding from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Hawks AI is an AI-powered decision support system built for aerial applications such as crop management and disease detection. It utilizes advanced technologies that allow for automated tasks, drone surveys, mapping, and tools to help users make better decisions.
The project was developed by a team from the Autonomous Societally Inspired Mission Oriented Vehicles – Harmonized Aerial Watch and Knowledge-Based Survey (ASIMOV-HAWKS). The team, led by Dr. Jose Ildefonso U. Rubrico, presented the project at a recent science fair called the Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week in SOCCSKSARGEN.
Dr. Rubrico emphasized the importance of ASIMOV-HAWKS in advancing AI-driven robotic technologies for agricultural applications. He also stressed the need to develop solutions to ongoing challenges in agricultural productivity. These challenges include the agri-banana industry, where the Philippines, despite being the second-largest banana exporter since 2018, saw a decline in banana exports in the following years due to the spreading Panama disease and rising production costs.
Utilizing drones equipped with cameras, Hawks AI captures real-time images for crop disease assessment and inventory management. One noteworthy feature is its capability to identify individuals and generating crop count measurements.
The project is part of DOST’s flagship program in AI and robotics. Funding comes from the DOST’s Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD). The DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI) is currently responsible for the project’s implementation.
Source: DOST