Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vũ Ngọc Ánh
The Groundbreaker in Modern Agriculture
Make By VietNam
As one of Vietnam’s leading experts in aerospace engineering, autonomous robotics, and precision mechanics, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vũ Ngọc Ánh has conducted extensive research in South Korea, the United States, and Europe.
Where Science Meets Real-World Solutions
Shoes Agtech: A Journey of Persistence and Innovation
Shoes Agtech began not with meetings, but with a mission: a scientist listening to farmers, turning struggles into solutions from the ground up.
How Shoes Agtech Builds Innovation
7 Years of Perseverance and Progress
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Objective: To create Vietnam’s first unmanned aerial device dedicated to agricultural applications.
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Result: Developed NOBA AQ10 – a drone capable of spraying 1 hectare of farmland in just 10 minutes, saving 90% of water and reducing chemical exposure.
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Limitation: Prone to issues in muddy terrain, high maintenance costs, and required advanced technical skills to operate.
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The research team conducted fieldwork in Long An, An Giang, Dong Thap…
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Carefully observed the practical issues when drones were applied in the field:
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High battery consumption, insufficient capacity for a single farming session.
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Rotor wind scatters pesticides, inaccurate spraying, leads to waste.
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Complex operation, high risk in case of technical malfunction.
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Flight permission required, must comply with strict safety regulations.
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➡️ Conclusion: Although modern, drones are not a technology made for flooded rice fields.
| Year | Milestone | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2016–2018 | Developed NOBA AQ10 – the first agricultural drone in Vietnam | Laid the foundation for flight technology |
| 2019–2022 | Field research, identified drone limitations | Tested in various provinces, evaluated practicality |
| 2022 | Conceived the Airboots floating robot idea | Strategic product shift |
| 2023 | Established Shoes Agtech, completed commercial prototype | Began wide-scale trial deployments |
| 2024 | Airboots won national award, expanded market | Praised by media, received potential investment |
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Transitioned from research to commercial product development
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Finalized the Airboots product through dozens of real-world test iterations
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Built a multidisciplinary team: engineers, communicators, and agricultural technicians
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Set the mission: “MECHANIZATION, SMART AGRICULTURE, AND VIETNAM’S GLOBAL RISE”
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Airboots won First Prize at AiViet Innovation 2024 – Vietnam’s prestigious national award for agricultural technology
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Dubbed by the media as:
“The Air Shoes” of Vietnamese agriculture – fully replacing manual labor in sowing, fertilizing, and spraying.
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Launched free demo trials across Mekong Delta provinces, receiving positive feedback from cooperatives and local farmers
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Expanded research to integrate AI, cameras, and biosensors into the product
FROM IDEA TO FIELD
THE SPIRIT HAS NEVER CHANGED
From the very first experimental drone to the mud-friendly floating robot Airboots, every step forward at Shoes Agtech has been built on one core belief:
Listening to farmers. Thinking with science. Acting with heart.
SUMMARY OF THE 7-YEAR JOURNEY
OVERVIEW TIMELINE
| Year | Key Milestones | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2016–2018 | Development of NOBA AQ10 – the first agricultural drone in Vietnam | Laid the foundation for aerial technology |
| 2019–2022 | Field research, identifying limitations of drones | Piloted in multiple provinces, practical review |
| 2022 | Initiated the idea of Airboots – floating robot | Strategic shift in product direction |
| 2023 | Founded Shoes Agtech, completed commercial prototype | Began expanded field testing |
| 2024 | Airboots won national award, expanded market reach | Praised in media, attracted potential investors |
