Fly4Future and the University of South Bohemia are developing an autonomous system to rescue fawns during the hay harvest.

Fly4Future, a Czech autonomous aerial robot manufacturer, and researchers from the University of South Bohemia are developing an autonomous aerial system that could significantly streamline the rescue of fawns before the hay harvest. The project’s goal is not to develop just another pilot-operated drone, but an intelligent system capable of autonomously monitoring large areas, detecting wildlife, and making decisions without human intervention. The project is supported by the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic.

Every year during the mowing of meadows and fields in the Czech Republic, thousands of fawns die because they instinctively hide in the tall grass and do not flee from approaching machinery. Consequently, May and June are the most critical months. Volunteer rescue teams often rely on drones equipped with thermal cameras, but operating them requires experienced pilots and a considerable amount of time. The newly developed system is designed to take over a large portion of this work automatically.

Volunteers can help train the AI by sharing their rescue videos

“We have successfully tested the first prototype of an unmanned system for the automatic detection of fawns in high vegetation. Based on the project’s requirements for data quality, Fly4Future, the lead partner in the research project, developed a platform equipped with the appropriate optical sensor and sufficient computing power. Our research team focuses on training neural networks to detect wildlife. Anyone involved in rescuing fawns before the hay harvest can support the project by sharing videos from their rescue missions, helping us expand our training dataset,” explains Radim Kuneš, Head of the Department of Technology and Cybernetics at the Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia.

Time savings – more rescued fawns

The system currently being developed first autonomously monitors the selected area from a higher altitude using a thermal camera. The software then evaluates areas where wildlife is likely present and plans the most energy-efficient route for a closer inspection. The robot then automatically flies between these coordinates, processing both thermal and RGB data to decide in real time whether it is indeed a fawn. After completing the mission, it autonomously returns to its starting position.

“The main advantage is the time saved. The system can plan the most efficient monitoring route itself, allowing operators to inspect more fields in the limited time available. Furthermore, rescue operations take place early in the morning, when the temperature difference between the animals and their surroundings makes searching for them significantly easier,” adds Radim Kuneš.

The future: precision agriculture driven by swarms of autonomous drones

A key part of the project is the development of advanced autonomous capabilities. The system uses onboard computing power, machine vision algorithms, trajectory planning, and systems for obstacle detection and collision prevention. As a result, it can operate safely and reliably even in diverse conditions without the need for constant piloting.

“Our vision is not to create tools that will require an ever-growing number of pilots and operators. We want to develop autonomous systems capable of collecting data independently, evaluating the situation, and helping people where time or capacity is currently lacking. Rescuing fawns is a great example of the practical application of this technology. In the future, we expect these tasks to be carried out not by individual drones, but by coordinated swarms of autonomous aerial robots that will divide the work among themselves and manage to monitor large areas faster, safer, and more efficiently than humans,” says Vojtěch Spurný, Head of Software Development at Fly4Future.

The project has broader ambitions beyond just wildlife protection. The technology could also support precision agriculture. It could provide farmers with valuable information about crop conditions, help them plan irrigation or fertilization more effectively, and contribute to the protection of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes.

Supported by the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic program, the University of South Bohemia and Fly4Future are collaborating on the project with partners from National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taiwan and the research organization Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), which is responsible for developing algorithms for the efficient coordination and movement of autonomous systems.

About Fly4Future

Fly4Future is a Czech technology company focused on developing autonomous aerial robots and advanced drone platforms for research, industry, and specialized applications. The company builds on top-tier expertise in robotics, artificial intelligence, and onboard autonomous control. This allows its solutions to operate even in GPS-denied environments. Alongside developing individual drones, Fly4Future also focuses on swarm systems. These involve the coordinated cooperation of multiple autonomous aerial robots working together to complete shared tasks. The company develops software, hardware, and fully customized platforms for university and corporate research teams, as well as technology visionaries looking for solutions from the initial concept to a functional prototype. Fly4Future acts as a European technology hub that connects research, engineering, and product development with a strong emphasis on safety, independence, and a European supply chain. The company was founded in 2017 as a spin-out from the Multi-Robot Systems Group at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague. Fly4Future continues to closely collaborate with this group, which is globally recognized as a leading robotics research center.

About the University of South Bohemia

The University of South Bohemia (USB) in České Budějovice is a modern educational institution and a center of science and research in southern Bohemia. It educates 10,000 students across 8 faculties in more than 200 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs. The university supports international study and research trips for students and academics and offers numerous opportunities for exchange programs. USB is a member of the Association of Research Universities of the Czech Republic and, as of January 2025, has become part of the prestigious KreativEU European University alliance.