RIoD2023 Competition Scope and Problems of Interest

(1) Agriculture

Successful implementation of drone technology in the agriculture sector requires addressing challenges like drone regulation, data management, and providing adequate training to farmers for using these technologies effectively. 

• Crop health monitoring and disease detection: Traditional methods of monitoring crop health and detecting diseases are time-consuming and may not provide real-time information. Drones equipped with multispectral or thermal cameras can quickly assess crop conditions, identify diseases, and facilitate timely intervention.

• Precision agriculture and targeted applications: Drones can be used to precisely apply fertilizers, pesticides, and other agricultural inputs to specific areas of the field based on data-driven analysis. This reduces wastage, lowers costs, and minimizes environmental impact.

• Irrigation management: Efficient water management is critical for agriculture. Drones equipped with sensors can monitor soil moisture levels and plant hydration, helping farmers optimize irrigation schedules and conserve water resources.

• Crop yield estimation: Accurately estimating crop yields is essential for planning harvests, storage, and marketing. Drones can collect data on plant density, growth patterns, and canopy coverage to provide reliable yield predictions.

• Soil analysis and nutrient mapping: Drones can carry out soil sampling and analyze nutrient content, pH levels, and other vital parameters across the entire field. This data can be used to create nutrient maps, enabling customized fertilization plans.

• Planting and seeding operations: Drones can automate planting and seeding processes, reducing the time and labor required for these tasks. This is particularly useful for large-scale farming operations.

• Monitoring livestock and grazing patterns: For livestock farming, drones can be used to monitor animal health, track grazing patterns, and identify potential issues such as injured or missing animals.

• Crop pollination: In situations where natural pollinators are scarce, drones can be deployed for artificial pollination, ensuring adequate fruit set and crop yield.

• Weed identification and management: Drones can capture high-resolution images of fields, allowing for the identification of weed hotspots. This information can help farmers implement targeted weed control measures.

• Crop maturity and harvest timing: Drones equipped with advanced imaging technology can analyze crop maturity levels, enabling farmers to schedule harvests at the optimal time for the highest quality and yield.

• Land survey and planning: Drones can be used to create detailed 3D maps and models of agricultural land, aiding in land surveying, planning new infrastructure, and evaluating potential expansion opportunities.

• Pest and predator control: Drones can be employed to scare away birds and other pests from fields, reducing crop damage without the need for harmful chemicals.

• Monitoring and compliance with regulations: Drones can assist in monitoring agricultural practices to ensure compliance with environmental regulations, water usage restrictions, and other guidelines.

Integrating drones and other innovative technologies into agriculture operations can significantly improve productivity, sustainability, and profitability for farmers.

(2) Emergency & Disaster Management

Incorporating technology and innovation, particularly drones, into emergency and disaster operations can significantly enhance response capabilities, improve situational awareness, and ultimately save lives and reduce the impact of disasters. However, it is essential to address privacy concerns, regulatory challenges, and ensure the responsible and ethical use of drone technology during emergencies.

• Rapid and efficient assessment of disaster-affected areas: Traditional methods of assessing disaster areas can be time-consuming and dangerous. Drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and sensors can quickly survey the affected regions, providing real-time data for better decision-making.

• Search and rescue operations: Locating and rescuing survivors in disaster-stricken areas can be challenging, especially in hard-to-reach or hazardous terrains. Drones can be used to search for missing persons, transmit their GPS coordinates, and drop essential supplies to stranded individuals.

• Communication and connectivity: Disasters often disrupt communication networks, making it difficult for responders to coordinate and for affected individuals to seek help. Drones with communication capabilities can act as mobile Wi-Fi hotspots, ensuring connectivity and enabling communication between responders and survivors.

• Damage assessment of critical infrastructure: Assessing the damage to critical infrastructure, such as bridges, roads, and buildings, is crucial for prioritizing recovery efforts. Drones can inspect infrastructure from the air, identifying structural issues and potential hazards.

• Delivery of medical supplies and aid: Drones can serve as delivery vehicles for medical supplies, food, water, and other essential items to remote or inaccessible areas, bypassing blocked roads and ensuring timely support.

• Environmental monitoring and early warning systems: Drones equipped with environmental sensors can monitor air quality, detect chemical leaks, and assess potential environmental hazards in disaster zones. They can also aid in setting up early warning systems for upcoming natural disasters like floods, wildfires, or hurricanes.

• Damage documentation for insurance and relief claims: After a disaster, accurate documentation of damages is essential for insurance claims and distributing relief funds. Drones can capture detailed imagery and video footage, providing evidence for assessment and verification purposes.

• Firefighting and disaster mitigation: Drones equipped with fire extinguishing agents or water hoses can assist in firefighting efforts, reaching areas that are difficult for humans to access safely.

• Psychological support and communication with survivors: Drones can be equipped with speakers and displays to provide instructions, support, and information to survivors, helping them stay informed and connected during a crisis.

• Crowd monitoring and management: During evacuation or relief distribution, drones can help monitor crowd movement and manage potential congestion points, ensuring a smooth and orderly process.

• Damage prediction and risk analysis: Using advanced algorithms and data analytics, drones can assess disaster-prone areas and predict potential hazards, assisting in proactive disaster planning and risk mitigation strategies.

• Resource allocation and coordination: Drones can collect real-time data on the location and availability of resources, facilitating efficient resource allocation and coordination among emergency responders and relief organizations.

(3) Planetary Biosphere Monitoring

• Biodiversity stock taking

• Carbon credit inventory 

• Forest & Green Space Monitoring

• Cave paleobiology & geochemistry

• Photosynthesis,

• Pollination 

• GHG monitoring

• Water Body Assessment

• GIS and environmental thermodynamics

Frequently Asked Questions 

1.    What are the prerequisites for taking up this challenge? Any basic coding skills or some experience/familiarity in prototype designing?

RIoD2023 would benefit if the team members can pool different skills covering coding, instrumentations & interfacing, engineering design, sensor development, data analysis, science communications (useful for pitching), scientific knowledge on the physical & biological processes involved in the chosen applications. Thus RIoD2023 encourages multiskill teams and with 4-6 team members, it is highly possible for members to reach out to others across the faculty to form multi talented skills. Everyone must have something to offer for the project ! Register and get connected through the mailing list which will be shared among all registered participants (as individual, team leader, team advisor, looking for a team to join). It's time to explore talent networking among the UM campus community.

2.    Can the team be made up of a mix of undergraduate and postgraduate students?

Yes, RIoD2023 allows flexible team formation of all mixes, including Research officers, and Research assistance working with the Team Advisors of his/her Center of Research. However, all participants must be members of Universiti Malaya campus community.  

3.    Will the sessions be conducted online or physically, and are we allowed to use the Makerspace to conduct testing and experiments with the drone (which is provided I assume)?

RIoD2023 duration has been extended from 1 August 2023 till mid Jan 2024, giving ample time for team to form teams, ideation phase and project design, and to come up with a design prototype for semifinal (in Mid Oct (when the semester 1 2023/2024 starts) and students are in campus. Any coaching session planned during the period of Aug-Sept will be conducted via online platform). After the Semifinal (prototype design pitching), coaching sessions will be done both online and physically at Makerspace@UM upon request from the facilitators).

The team's focus is to create IoT Sensor modules (with or without robotic mechanism) to be attached onboard the test drone (which will be provided at Makerspace@UM for test flight. These two test drones are custom-designed by MRANTI Drone team specifically for RIoD2023, capable of carrying max-payload of about 300gm). Participants are strongly encouraged to check out MRANTI drone webpage (https://mranti.my/solutions/scaling-up-market-ready/mydronetech)  to see the design concept of highly customizable drones (which are quite different from commercially available drones such as dji. makerspace@Um will be the opened to the registered team (and its members+advisors) of RIoD2023

4.    The workshops and competition will be held physically or virtually?

Aug-Sept Sessions will be done virtually and Oct onward in mixed virtual & physical upon request of facilitators. Pls refer to Question 3 above.

5.    Will the drone and any related devices/equipment will be provided?

Basic electronics and sensors controlled may be available from Makerspace@UM foundry, but participants are strongly advised to take advantage of their respective faculty teaching and research laboratory facilities and resources by integrating the project theme as part of coursework projects, capstone FYP etc, or R^D outreach prototyping of ideas from research laboratory. This way, RIoD2023 serves multiple objectives and reduces redundancy of facilities and activities. The team advisor could play an altruistic role to achieve multiple outcomes by supporting teams, benefiting the students as well as showcasing the research centers outreach activities (in preparing & sponsoring teams for competition). Students are strongly encouraged to get the buy-in from the team advisors so that their ideas will get support. This is a skill that will be useful for working life !

6.    Is there any rules and rubrics for the competition?

RIoD2023 is an open competition with the main target aimed at finding potentially viable solutions to the problems posted by the industry partners. The problem statement includes the expected outcome.  The basic rules of competition in terms of team formation and expected outcome are listed on the website. A general rule for industry design, originality, creativity, performance merit of the specific application and practical implementation should apply for RIoD2023. Details of assessment rubric for semifinal and final will be announced during the briefing to registered participants.  

7.    May I know the timeline of the coaching session and the way of conduct?

Introductory Sessions (#2): Aug-Sept 2023 -online, Technical Session (#2): Oct- December 2023 - online and physical depending on facilitators request.  Only registered participants will receive the links to the coaching sessions and access to the coaching information pack.

8.    Do we need to prepare anything (e.g., proposal) for the pitching?

The team is expected to present a detailed prototype as a design proposal. Any supporting evidence with working  models will be of advantage. It's always better to be overprepared to make a headstart in a competition. Basic rubric for the semi-final stage will be communicated to all registered teams. 

9.    May I have the drone model and detail? This information is important for our design. 

The Drone will be custom-built up by MRANTI from basic components. It will be highly customizable and for RIoD2023, the max payload (including power unit, control systems, sensors and imaging systems, etc should not exceed 300-400gm). RIoD2003 is all about IoT (with or without robotic systems) payload modules to be attached onboard the custom-built test drone.  The drones (at least two units will be placed at Makerspace@UM for the team to inspect, and will be available for test flights later in the competition (after October 2023). Drone will be flown by certified operators.