Integrate

an ultrasound deterrence system on a UAV platform.

Define

a repeatable operational workflow for farm deployment.

Optimize

flight routes to maximise effective field coverage under battery limits.

Validate

the approach through lab/controlled tests and pilot-site trials.

RODENT

 Rodents cause significant damage in agriculture: • around 77 million tonnes of food lost each year globally (≈€11 bn/year). Conventional control methods can be labour-intensive, environmentally harmful and inconsistent. RODENT takes a non-chemical, UAV-enabled approach with ultrasound deterrence. The solution is designed for real farm conditions, aiming for practical deployment and scalability. This will be achieved through the design, integration, and validation of a drone-based ultrasound rodent deterrence system and operational workflow, demonstrating feasibility through testing (lab/controlled and/or pilot-site trials) and defining a clear path toward real-world adoption.

waves

 DJI Inspire 2

Ultrasound multi-speaker array 

FLIR AX5 thermal camera

Route optimisation (GA-based) to maximise effective field coverage under battery/time limits

Thermal detection (YOLO-based) to flag potential rodent activity in thermal frames

Outcomes

Built a functional UAV ultrasound deterrence prototype

Lab validation completed at Palace of Science in Belgrade

Field trials executed at Šumski mir ranch

Challenges Faced

Outdoor variability: wind, vegetation and ambient noise affect ultrasound  propagation - mitigated via controlled lab validation and field iteration. Payload vs endurance trade-off: added weight/power demand reduces flight time - optimised mounting, mission duration and coverage strategy. Deterrence effectiveness is species/context dependent: animal response varies by habitat and pressure - scenario-based testing and repeatable missions.

Operational constraints: safe low-altitude flights, obstacles, and permissions - defined flight envelope and site-specific procedures.

Impact (Socio-economic & Environmental)

Socio-economic impact

Reduce crop losses by enabling targeted, repeatable deterrence over high-risk zones

Lower operational burden compared with labour-intensive monitoring and manual interventions

Scalable service model: supports deployment as a farm service (on-demand or seasonal coverage)

Improve farm resilience through faster response to emerging rodent activity and damage"

Environmental impact

Non-chemical approach: reduces reliance on poisons/rodenticides and associated contamination risks

Biodiversity-friendly direction: lowers secondary poisoning risks for non-target species

Supports sustainable agriculture by aligning pest management with nature-protection goals, especially in sensitive area