HiveDock is a modular system designed to integrate unmanned vehicles (UVs) into agriculture, enhancing both the efficiency and sustainability of agricultural practices. Conceived by Matteo Mojoli and developed with Giorgio Sbaraini, Lorenzo Silvestri, Valentino Stella, and Francesca Zeccara, HiveDock consists of a docking and charging station that enables UVs—both terrestrial and aerial—to operate autonomously, addressing the challenges of modern agriculture.

The system offers high customization and flexibility, tailored to meet the needs of farms and consortia by automating operational cycles, optimizing resources, boosting agricultural yields, and mapping local biodiversity.

The charging stations are built around two key principles: modularity and distributed production, allowing them to adapt to fragmented and diverse agricultural settings.

Functionally, the station serves three main purposes: protecting the drone, providing operational support, and integrating with other platforms. The internal compartment ensures shelter and autonomous charging, managing charging cycles at every stage. Furthermore, the stations can be equipped with secondary systems for data collection, weather monitoring, improving operational precision, and other advanced features.

About the project’s approach

HiveDock is a project originating from Matteo Mojoli’s master degree thesis, which has since been redesigned to embrace a more distributed approach from the very start. Following the principles of the Distributed Design Platform, the project uses digital fabrication and standardized components, ensuring flexibility and scalability.

HiveDock’s modular system allows it to be adapted and customized to meet the specific needs of local agricultural contexts, drone types, and operational requirements. This adaptability ensures that the project is open, collaborative, and ecosystemic, enabling integration with a wide range of platforms and stakeholders.

By focusing on the creation of open, standardized systems that can be easily replicated and distributed, HiveDock aligns with the values of sustainability, collaboration, and regeneration. The project also fosters a network of shared knowledge and resources, allowing for continuous improvement and refinement based on the diverse needs of its users and environments.

About the designers

The HiveDock team is made up of Matteo Mojoli, Giorgio Sbaraini, Lorenzo Silvestri, Valentino Stella, and Francesca Zeccara. We all share a strong connection through our educational journey, having graduated from Politecnico di Milano in either Integrated Product Design or Design Engineering.

Currently, Matteo, Lorenzo, Valentino, and Francesca work as research fellows at Polifactory, where they have developed expertise in open design, distributed approaches, and digital fabrication techniques for prototype development. Giorgio complements the team with his in-depth understanding of 3D printing and his more technically-oriented design approach.