MachineryLink

Forget for a minute the images the word "drones" call to mind. In fact, forget the word "drones" altogether. Let's talk Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Every week, it seems, I get an email from a company talking about a new UAV that would be perfect for scouting farm fields. The entrepreneur world is abuzz with the belief that UAVs are about to take off as the latest and greatest technology to aid in precision farming. UAVs could quickly and inexpensively map fields, scout for patches of weeds, even locate cattle in distant pastures. Flying vehicles with cameras could become a second pair of eyes for farmers and ranchers.

There is a big "but" to all this enthusiasm.

As my DTN/The Progressive Farmer colleague Chris Clayton recently reported here, "Right now, though, the U.S. is a long way from widespread commercial use of UAVs. Everything that could happen with UAVs in the next few years hinges on a conflicting set of industry needs and public interest. State and federal lawmakers are considering privacy rights in trying to restrict the use of UAVs by special-interest groups such as animal-rights activists, or the media, or government regulators at various levels. At the same time, the FAA is trying to write regulations on how UAVs can be used commercially and what would be the restrictions on their use."

But let's assume the FAA someday lets you fly a UAV over your own farm. You have two options: a fixed-wing vehicle (looks like an airplane) or a rotary-winged vehicle (looks like a helicopter). Each configuration has its advantages and its limitations.

A fixed-wing vehicle flies faster and covers acres quickly. Bret Chilcott of Neodesha, Kan., says his AgEagle can fly 25-37 mph taking photographs all the while. At that rate, it can cover 600 acres in less than an hour. (www.ageagle.com)

Because of its speed, a fixed-wing vehicle is well suited for mapping fields. It can do so with cameras that take both still and video images. Some systems are designed so the operator starts with an existing map -- say from GoogleEarth -- and pre-plans a flight, setting the camera to trigger over specific points in a field. Later, those digital images can be stitched together to create a geo-referenced composite image.

Such an image can reveal to a farmer or a consultant a lot about what is happening in a field, be it nutrient deficiencies, weed pressure or disease. With that information, a farmer can create precision prescriptions to deal with the problems.

The AgEagle weighs about 8 pounds and has a wingspan of about 54 inches. It can fly up to an altitude of 400 feet. Cost is around $7,000, Chilcott said.

A rotary-winged vehicle flies more slowly than a fixed-winged vehicle and has the ability to hover. That makes it well suited for crop scouting or to examine a particular area of a field. The most popular type has four rotors that spin around a frame about the size of a beach ball.

Both fixed-wing and rotary-winged vehicles use battery power. A charge lasts up to 60 minutes for most fixed-winged UAVs; only 20 minutes for rotary wings, which have four motors to power rather than one.

"This is instant gratification for crop scouts," said Rory Paul of Volt Aerial Robotics. (www.voltaerialrobotics.com) With a rotary-winged vehicle, "you can stand on the side of a field with a real-time video download and see what is happening in the interior of a field." If you want a closer look, you can lower the UAV and take hi-res still images of crops, insects or weeds. Paul's rotary-winged vehicle also costs about $7,000.

UAVs of all sorts use off-the-shelf digital cameras. More sophisticated versions can be filtered to gather specific type of data.

Dozens of companies have jumped into the UAV market and created a lot of choices. There are several factors to consider, if you decide to get into the UAV market.

Durability. These things fly several hundred feet in the air, which means they can fall several hundred feet in case of malfunction, operator error or sudden wind changes. Even when conditions are right, UAVs eventually have to land, and where they come down is often rough terrain. Choose a UAV that can endure the typical landing with little or no damage and can be easily repaired if (when) accidents happen. Many UAV models use inexpensive replacement parts.

Retrievability. If your UAV comes down in a mature cornfield will you be able to find it? Or will the combine find it for you weeks later? Make sure the UAV you buy has a GPS finder feature.

Learning curve. Some people easily learn to fly a UAV; some people don't. Ask for a test drive before you buy.

Launchability. Some fixed-winged UAVs are simply thrown into the air by hand. That's okay. But it adds an element of human error. Look for a UAV with a launcher that gives consistency and reliability to take offs.

With all the choices available, a farmer should be able to find a UAV to fit his needs. But many observers feel it will be consultants, not farmers, who most likely will pilot UAVs in the future. Flying might be fun but working over a computer to make the most of aerial images might be too time-consuming for busy farmers.

For a consultant, such computer time can be money, said Kevin Price, a professor in the Agronomy and Geography Department at Kansas State University. "Crop scouts who are not using this technology in a few years will be at a great disadvantage," he said.

(AG)