SPADE Open Call: Funding Opportunity for Innovators in Agriculture, Forestry, and Livestock

Aims

• The initiative aims to support nine groundbreaking projects focused on advancing agriculture, forestry, and livestock management through UAV technology.

Challenges

• UCU-CH1: Swarm Communication and Navigation
  • Challenge: To develop a communication and navigation system for drone swarms to map areas using LiDAR. A central computer will process sensor data into a detailed map while coordinating swarm navigation to ensure full coverage.
• UCU-CH2: Open-Source Tilted Rotor Drone System
  • Challenge: To develop an open-source omnidirectional navigation system using a tilted rotor drone design. The proposal should include hardware development for tilted rotors and the creation of a vectored thrust controller as an extension to the PX4 flight controller. This controller will manage rotor tilting angles and speeds, with the software operating on the drone’s onboard computing unit.
• UCU-CH3: Aerial Image Processing Service
  • Challenge: To develop and deploy an AWS-based system for uploading raw images, processing them into orthomosaics, and integrating with a third-party microservice for data storage and further analysis. The system will include APIs for image upload, processing options, and data download, supporting radiometric calibration images, multiple data outputs, and connection with Management Information Systems.
• CS1-CH1: ML for based Disease Detection in Mediterranean Crops
  • Challenge: To explore innovative applications of machine learning (ML) for disease detection on plants and crops, primarily focusing on orange trees and potatoes. Analyse large datasets to identify patterns, predict outbreaks, and enhance diagnostic accuracy to improve crop health and agricultural sustainability.
• CS1-CH2: Open Field Data Collection and Annotation
  • Challenge: To acquire and structure open-field crop datasets to train cloud-based ML models for at least two focused applications, requiring access to multiple fields for data collection. As part of the Open Field Case in the SPADE project, it supports the creation of comprehensive segmented datasets of georeferenced aerial images captured by UAVs equipped with RGB, thermal, multispectral, or hyperspectral cameras.
• CS2-CH1: Below-Canopy Forest Data Collection and Annotation
  • Challenge: To support the collection and annotation of a comprehensive European below-canopy forestry dataset. Include annotated images and point clouds to facilitate segmentation and classification of below-canopy forest environments.
• CS2-CH2: Ultralight Self-levelling Landing Gear for Quadrotor Drones
  • Challenge: To design adaptive, lightweight landing gear solutions for quadrotor drones. Ensure safe take-off and landing on uneven terrain with minimal added weight.
• CS3-CH1: Virtual Fencing Application for Livestock Grazing Management
  • Challenge: To develop a virtual fence thresholding application for targeted grazing management. Utilize the SPADE Livestock Platform (SLP), Parrot Anafi USA UAV, and animal collar transceivers to monitor livestock, collect relevant data via SLP, and validate the solution in real-world scenarios by securing access to a livestock farm.

Funding Information

• Total budget:  €525,000
• Eight selected projects will receive €60,000 each, while one project will be awarded €45,000, with a project duration of six months.

What they are looking for?

• Open Call#2 seeks 9 talented innovators (for their 9 challenges) to advance research in agriculture, livestock, and forestry applications
• Eligible projects must align with one of four SPADE Case Study groups:
  • Open-Field Case Study (Spain)
    • Focusing on drones in farming to streamline tasks and provide insights for better crop and field management.
  • Forestry Case Study (Norway):
    • Exploring drone swarms, cooperating drones for forest inventory, planter drone, and heavy-lift drones.
  • Livestock Case Study (Greece):
    • Enhancing sheep breeding through grazing and health monitoring with multi-purpose UAVs.
  • Universal Consideration Across Case Study:
    • Enhancing efficiency, monitoring environmental conditions, and improving productivity through the integration of UAV technology in the open-field crops, forestry and livestock management.

Eligibility Criteria

• Ensure your organization meets the following criteria to qualify for this unique funding opportunity!
  • Eligible Countries
    • Applicants must be legally established in the following countries:
      • European Union (EU) Member States, including outermost regions Note for Hungary: Entities linked to public interest trusts under Hungarian Law IX of 2021 are ineligible for funding, as per Council Implementing Decision 2022/2506.
      • Horizon Europe Associated Countries.
  • Eligible Entities
    • The following types of organizations can apply:
      • Universities and Research Centers
        • Multiple research groups from the same department may apply, but individual members cannot be part of multiple proposals to ensure fairness and dedication.
      • NGOs and Foundations
        • Non-profit organizations with expertise in drone application development.
      • SMEs and Startups
        • Small and medium-sized enterprises or startups developing innovative solutions for SPADE case studies.
    • Note for Companies: Only SMEs are eligible.
  • SME Criteria
    • An enterprise qualifies as an SME if it meets the following:
      • Headcount: Fewer than 250 Annual Work Units (AWU).
      • Financial Criteria:
        • Annual turnover of ≤ €50 million, OR
        • Annual balance sheet total of ≤ €43 million

Ineligibility Criteria

• Ineligible Entities: Natural persons, mid-caps, large industries, or corporations.

For more information, visit SPADE.