Desenvolvimento de um mecanismo de dispersão de cápsulas para o controle biológico usando aeronave pilotada remotamente

Abstract

Biological control is a fundamental strategy in the management of agricultural pests, using natural enemies to combat unwanted organisms. In the distribution of these natural enemies, Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) emerge, which can increase the effectiveness of applying the biological control agent and reduce costs, especially in larger areas when compared to manual distribution. It is essential to ensure that natural enemies distributed by RPAs remain intact during transport and distribution. This requires the development of both hardware and software mechanisms capable of performing accurate distribution under various climatic conditions. In this scenario, the present work aims to develop a mechanism for the dispersion of biological control capsules through an RPA. For the development of the capsule dispersion mechanism for biological control, the phases included informational (clarify the task), conceptual, preliminary, and detailed projects. Solidworks® software was used to design the mechanism project, and the prototype was subsequently built. The laboratory test was carried out at the Machine Design Laboratory at UFGD, evaluating the ability to drive the electric motor of the dispersion mechanism of the biological control capsules. The prototype was effective in performing a complete 360º turn and releasing a capsule. It proved to be a promising option, given its ability to release capsules easily and its relatively simple design.