Smart agriculture technology: An integrated framework of renewable energy resources, IoT-based energy management, and precision robotics

Abstract

Modern agricultural practices encounter challenges related to operational efficiency and environmental effects. This prompts a demand for innovative solutions to foster sustainability in farming while emphasizing the limitations of conventional farming methods. To address these challenges in modern agriculture systems, this research proposes a comprehensive framework for smart farming. The proposed framework comprises of three technology integrations: 1) an efficient integration of renewable energy resources (RERs) with solar panels and battery energy storage systems (BESS), 2) an IoT-based environmental monitoring for precision irrigation, and 3) an android application-controlled precision robotic system for targeted chemical application. The proposed framework investigates a case study on Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE) to explore and analyze optimal scenarios of multiple energy resources. Results demonstrate successful cross-prototype integration through the Blynk IoT platform providing users with a unified interface. Furthermore, the results provide a comprehensive analysis and investigation into the interactions between RERs and the grid across various combinations. The findings indicate the potential of this framework to revolutionize agriculture and thus offer a sustainable, efficient, and technologically advanced approach. It also represents the contribution of a complete solution to modern agricultural challenges presenting tangible results for a promising future in smart and sustainable farming practices.