Setting the Stage for UAV/UAS Applications in Agriculture Ted Batkin Batkin Agricultural Service...
-
Upload
chastity-ford -
Category
Documents
-
view
219 -
download
0
Transcript of Setting the Stage for UAV/UAS Applications in Agriculture Ted Batkin Batkin Agricultural Service...
Setting the Stage for UAV/UAS Applications in Agriculture
Ted BatkinBatkin Agricultural ServiceVisalia, CA
Current Status of UAV/UAS Systems in Agriculture
• Primarily Used for Crop Surveys• Some applications in the Midwest states• Emerging Technology for Precision Ag• Philosophical Disconnect between Ag and the
UAV/UAS worlds.• Technical Barriers for Remote Sensing
Target Definitions Identifying Agricultural Needs
2
Technical Challenges
• How do new companies define the needs of the consumer (grower)
• How do producers communicate their needs to the technical industries in a language they will all understand.
• What sensors are necessary to meet the challenges of the agricultural community.
• Who will provide the funding for research and development to close the technical gaps.
3
Barriers to Market Entry
• Technical products that will meet the industries needs.
• Political barriers to the use of unmanned systems.
• Regulatory barriers to market entry.• Need for public/private partnerships for funding
R & D of product development.
4
Reality of Agricultural Applications
• Applications must have a relationship to real problems facing growers.
• Applications can not just be the figment of the designers vision of farming.
• Time must be spent in conversation with growers and grower groups to assure applicable solutions.
5
What are some of the issues facing agriculture:
• Plant disease early detection.• Tree health status of orchards and groves.• Insect population detection.• Water stress management solutions.• Long term water availability analysis.• Soil analysis and variability across a plot of land.
6
Example: Huanglongbing (HLB) aka Citrus Greening
• Worldwide disease – very persistent and will cause massive tree losses in commercial and backyard situations
• Current treatment strategy is “Early Detection – Rapid Response”
• One example of detection is a VOC sensor platform that actually “sniffs” the tree.
7
Huanglongbing–HLB Citrus Greening
Healthy Tree
HLB - Affects on Young Trees• Trees stunted
• May never bear fruit
• Attractive to psyllids - large source of inoculum
Photos courtesy Fernando Tersi, Cambuhy Farms, Brasil
Considerations for Solutions
• Must know the target and how to clearly identify the symptoms.
• Must have the correct tools for detection and identification.
• Must know the environment for the search platform.
• Must select the proper platform that will succeed in the target environment.
11
Opportunities
• Building communication pathways for inter disciplinary forums and discussions.
• Education of public officials of the positive benefits to UAV/UAS programs.
• Overhaul of the current regulatory system to allow private enterprise entry into the UAV/UAS marketplace.
• Development of public funding mechanisms for R & D that encourage or force partnerships.
12
Conclusions
• The opportunities need to be addressed at all levels.
• Most important for agriculture, understand your target market and know your clients needs.
• Develop systems that meet those needs and will generate a revenue stream to support the programs.
13
Thank you
We need new tools for the tool
box !