PITANCE

PITANCE is an innovative project that leverages artificial intelligence and computer vision to optimize the pollination process in dragon fruit plantations. Focused on improving yields and reducing manual labor in remote agricultural settings, PITANCE detects the precise moment when flowers are ready to be pollinated.

Using high-resolution cameras installed in the field, PITANCE captures images of dragon fruit flowers and processes them locally to identify bloom stages with minimal latency. The project addresses a critical challenge in agriculture: knowing exactly when and where to intervene to ensure effective pollination. By doing so, it enables growers to act at the right time—automatically or through assisted decisions.

Given the limited wireless connectivity in rural areas, PITANCE integrates edge computing and leverages autonomous aerial vehicles (AAVs) for data retrieval and monitoring. The project also incorporates sensors and robotics supported by the UMA testbed, which provides 5G connectivity, agricultural machinery, and AI-as-a-Service capabilities.

Ultimately, PITANCE brings cutting-edge AI to the field, helping farmers make smarter, data-driven decisions in real time, and laying the groundwork for sustainable, high-tech agriculture.