Farms of the Future - Drone Agtech Deployment

Description

We seek a drone and drone enclosure (Drone in a Box) to be procured and installed at 1-2 NSW DPIRD Research Stations. BVLOS approvals from CASA & BVLOS certified pilots operating under ReOC.

Project goals

Drones have long been used on farms, but traditionally required manual operation and specialist data handling. Over the past five years, four major trends have transformed this landscape:

1. Near-autonomous drone capability
2. Advances in cloud and edge processing
3. Widespread use of computer vision for automated ag workflows
4. Redesign of drones as delivery platforms for inputs (fertilizer, herbicide, seeding, etc.)

Farms of the Future (FotF) aims to accelerate Agtech adoption for more productive, sustainable NSW producers. We require Internet of Things enabled drones to demonstrate modern production options. The ideal solution is a “Drone in a Box” system (e.g., DJI, Autel, Hextronics), which includes a drone, charging, and communication components for scheduled, automated flights with minimal manual handling.

Applications include asset and animal monitoring, crop growth assessment, and security. We will showcase options ranging from:

• Manual ad-hoc flights (eg:checking stray livestock) to schoduled operational tasks (eg: trough checks)
• Livestreamed imagery for rapid observation to machine-learning workflows (eg: night feral animal detection)
• Labour-saving activities like fence checks and safety improvements by reducing heat or bog exposure

Drones will operate for FotF field activities until 28/02/2028. Post-program units may be returned, on-sold or retained under new arrangements, subject to DPIRD's capacity for ongoing support, to be agreed before end 2027.

Scope

Goods:

Drone in a Box. Examples:

• Dock3 (Dock charging station and comms array) with Matrice 4TD drone (RGB and Thermal sensors, included)
• Hextronics Atlas (dock) with any compatible drone (e.g., DJI 350)

Note: Drone payload is important in determining suitable work use cases. RGB and Thermal sensors are useful; RGB, Multispectral and Thermal sensors preferred if available.

Variables (depending on cost):

• 1 or 2 units required
• Lease or purchase

Services - Flight planning, management and execution

This process will require CASA site approval for BVLOS operations for each unit. While allowing local site staff the option to fly the drone with VLOS and an appropriate RePL is critical to ensure site engagement with the technology, all flights will be managed/logged under the supplier’s ReOC.

Computer vision model training to facilitate animal welfare checks.

Installation and calibration of Drone in a box to site(s).

Destinations - One drone is to be installed at Trangie Agricultural Research Centre.

Depending on the cost, one drone may also be installed at one of Yanco Agricultural Institute’s associated properties (Yanco Agricultural Institute, Leeton farm, or Griffith Centre for Irrigated Agriculture)

Contract term is 2 years (1/2/2026 - 28/2/2028)

Related files

• No files attached

Additional details/instructions

PLEASE NOTE: Being registered for the following schemes is NOT mandatory for this opportunity.

• Engineering and Technical Scheme (SCM4721)
• ICT Services Scheme (SCM0256)

For "Mandatory Requirement A - "scheme membership", please select "YES" to ensure your response is received.

Requirements

Opportunity requirements

1.

Tender Documents

Please download all the attached documents and complete and return: -

• Part B - Response Form.

Response type

File upload (Multiple)

Response templates

• P_2520480 - Part B - Response Form.docx (88 KB)

Related documents

• P_2520480 - Part D - Statement of Requirements.pdf (158 KB)

• P_2520480 - Part C - Services Contract - Proforma.pdf (1051 KB)

• P_2520480 - Part A - Overview and Conditions.pdf (276 KB)

Evaluation

Terms and conditions