Monitoring and control with the population of Sosnovskyi hogweed on the shores of reservoirs using UAVs

¹ Ioffe Institute, 195251 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
² Admiral Makarov State University of Maritime and Inland Shipping, 198035 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
³ Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
⁴ Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, 195251 Saint-Petersburg, Russia

¹ Corresponding author: ecobaltica@gmail.com

Abstract

This study presents findings from research aimed at designing an innovative heterogeneous robotic system tailored for the control of Heracleum sosnowskyi – commonly known as Sosnowsky’s hogweed – in ecologically sensitive and otherwise inaccessible shoreline zones of reservoirs and other water bodies. The proposed approach centers on the deployment of an unmanned surface vessel serving as a mobile base for a fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The methodology integrates autonomous surveillance with automated identification of invasive flora through computer vision techniques, followed by highly targeted eradication via the precise delivery of herbicide-filled biodegradable capsules using either a pneumatic or pyrotechnic launch mechanism. This strategy ensures maximal treatment efficacy while drastically minimizing chemical usage, safeguarding human operators from exposure to toxic plant compounds, and substantially reducing ecological risks to aquatic and riparian ecosystems compared to conventional control practices. The results of the analysis affirm the system’s viability for real-world deployment in environmental monitoring and biodiversity conservation initiatives.