# RFID and Drones: The Next Generation of Plant Inventory
###### Abstract
Images collected by sUAS has been used to validate models using statistical analysis [5] and most recently using artificial intelligence [7]. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag functions as a barcode that can hold information [1]. There are two different categories of RFID tags: active, and passive, which can be made in different shapes and forms [1, 8] for varying applications. Passive tags are made of paper, plastic, or vinyl [8, 9]. RFID tags are available that can tolerate continuous exposure to outdoor nursery production environments including water, heat, dirt and chemicals. RFID labels provide a unique identification code for every label and can be encoded with important production information such as genus, species, cultivar, planting dates, etc. Passive RFID labels are inexpensive, and as their adoption increases, costs will decrease as a matter of scale. Passive RFID labels are read with a particular UHF radio frequency using a RFID interrogator. An advantage in agricultural operations is that RFID does not require a clean label unlike commonly used barcodes [10]. RFID tags have been used in farms for tagging and tracking animals, plants and health monitoring [11], identify and track livestock [10] and monitoring of the irrigation system management [12]. RFID systems have been used in the food industry and medical field [13]. [PERSON] et al. [14] investigated using sUAS combined with Radio Frequency Identifiers (RFID) for inventory control in warehouses. [PERSON] and [PERSON] [15] developed a small portable RFID scanner comprised of a Raspberry Pi, and interrogator. They used a chip similar to what was used, but theirs included the development kit where their code will only interface directly to the USB port of the development kit. Their system was designed to be highly customizable and modular. [PERSON] et al. [16] developed similar system using an Arduino-based RFID platform where its application was for three animal applications (breeding behaviours of Wood Ducks, RFID-enabled bird feeder, and nest-box monitoring for breeding birds). Their system used an Arduino M0 and two RFID module, UB22270 from Atmel. The RFID modules used a simplified antenna, thin coil magnet wire, which can be easily created with an inductance between 1.25-1.3 mH. The antenna was placed on the entrance hole such that the movement of tagged ducks will be recorded. Although, the system was quite unique as it used a small RFID chip, its applications are very similar to RFID applications in manufacturing, where the interrogator is placed in one location. Recent work evaluating RFID and drones for monitoring and management of animals is reported [17], although the technology was used for different purposes. RFID was only used for position and tracking while the drone was used for counting animals using cameras. A study reported using RFID and wireless technology to predict the moisture content of rice [18]. Both the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) from the two wireless transceivers were used for predicting the moisture content in rice using Artificial Neural Network. They reported that both the RSSI of RFID and Zigbee transceivers can be used to predict the moisture content with an accuracy of more than 85%. The overriding objective of this research effort is to develop and promote sustainable strategies that improve the profitability of the nursery industry, e.g., to demonstrate merging specific ground- and aerial-based technologies (sUAS and RFID) in a whole system approach to address the specific need of providing near on-demand plant inventory. The focus of this effort is:To evaluate a RFID tracking system to scan and identify RFID tags using a SUAS;
2. To identify different RFID tags and their efficiency with respect to the distance and orientation relative to the RFID reader.