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Precision Agriculture Technologies: Contributions of Agricultural Innovators to Sensor- and AI-Based Farming

Title of the Book: AI Technologies: Know the Inventors, Understand the Inventions, Become Entrepreneurs – 100 AI and Technology Pioneers Who Changed the World

Chapter: 4

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59646/865/04

Authors: Lavanya B Koppal, BMS College of Engineering, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Abstract

Precision agriculture has redefined contemporary agronomy by shifting crop management from uniform field-scale treatments to micro-targeted, data-driven interventions. This chapter examines the transition from historical uniform farming practices to sensor-integrated, spatially variable cultivation. Focusing on foundational agricultural innovators who bridged mechanical engineering, spectral physics, and computation, we explore the development of proximal soil sensors, real-time crop canopy analyzers, and satellite-guided variable rate machinery. The analysis traces how raw biophysical signals—such as optical canopy reflectance, soil electrical conductivity, and micro-climatic gradients—are acquired, digitized, and translated into operational farming strategies. Furthermore, the convergence of artificial intelligence, edge computing, and autonomous field robotics is evaluated alongside emerging commercialization models, offering students and early-stage entrepreneurs a blueprint for building scalable, sustainable agritech enterprises.

Keywords: Precision Agriculture, Proximal Sensing, Variable Rate Technology, Agricultural AI, Edge Computing

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