Unmanned Aerial Systems for Ozarks Agriculture UAS, UAV, drone Next High Tech Tool for Agriculture and Beyond by Bob Schultheis Natural Resource Engineering Specialist Photo credit: http://modernfarmer.com/2014/01/precision hawk/ for Webster County Cattle Producers Inc. Marshfield, MO February 11, 2016 1 Photo credit: http://hoosieragribusiness.wordpress.com/2014/09/22/are drones the next big thing in ag/ Photo credit: http://nimbus.unl.edu/projects/crop surveying using aerial robots / Agricultural Challenges FAO predicts need to feed 9.6 billion people on planet by 2050 Food production must increase by 70% by 2050, in spite of: Limited availability of arable lands Increasing need for fresh water Agriculture consumes 70% of the world s fresh water supply Impact of climate change affecting seasonal events in the life cycle of plant and animals. Future of agriculture = smart farming Economic Impact of UAS Precision agriculture and public safety are the most promising commercial and civil markets = 90% of the known potential markets for UAS Agriculture in U.S. anticipated to provide: $65 billion of $82 billion UAS business from 2015 2025 103,700+ new jobs (at least 34,000 jobs over $40K/year) $13.6 billion in first 3 years $1.56 billion in Missouri with 1,970+ jobs over 10 years Every year that integration is delayed, the U.S. loses over $10 billion in potential economic benefit = $27 million loss per day Source: Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) Issues Who can and cannot fly UAS? Privacy and safety concerns What can I do with UAS? Will the regulations hinder growth of UAS use? Can I Fly an UAV? Yes, No, Maybe >400 Feet = Navigable Airspace <400 Feet = Non Navigable Airspace Property Rights? Photo credit: www.amazon.com 5 6 1
The National Airspace Classes MSL = Mean Sea Level AGL = Above Ground Level Different Types of UAS Operations Model aircraft (hobby or recreation only) Civil operations (non governmental) Public operations (governmental) Class G (uncontrolled) airspace is mostly used for a small layer of airspace near the ground, but there are larger areas of Class G airspace in remote regions. 7 Photo credit: www.amazon.com 8 Privacy Concerns Laws already control taking picture and videos of people, especially in areas where they have reasonable expectation of privacy People and what they are doing are clearly visible Sight crosses your property boundaries New laws are likely The view from UAS Safety Concerns Most people have little aviation experience They become pilots as soon as they start to fly the devices Must accept all the responsibilities for safety that a pilot of a regular manned aircraft does How Does a UAS Work? More than a flying device UAS gives you a unique perspective that is easy, fast, and not hindered by roads, fences, crops, and other barriers to movement Navigate by GPS, auto return to home hover Sensor: normal digital videos and photos Controllable with joysticks, vision goggles or smartphone 11 2
UAS best suited for the Four D s Possible Jobs for UAS Dirty Dangerous Difficult Dull Aerial Precision Ag, also known as APA, is a division of Cirrus Rotors http://aparotors.com/about us/ Agricultural monitoring (crops & animals) Weather monitoring Disaster assessment & management (tornadoes, floods, wildfires, earthquakes) Tower, bridge, rail and power line surveys Hazardous site evaluation (chemical, nuclear, etc.) Law enforcement (locate threats, document site for evidence) Environmental monitoring & research Aerial imaging/mapping (real estate) Oil and gas exploration Telecommunications (news coverage, sporting events, moviemaking) Freight transport/package delivery Agri tourism Entertainment (unique photography, remote dog walking ) Photo credit: CBS News Photo credit: CBS News Most Common Uses by Farmers Crop Scouting Directed scouting of animals and crops, which involves ground truthing what you observe from air Crop condition (growth, insects, diseases) Cattle counts, rustler monitoring Assess stand establishment of crop Photo credit: CBS News Crop Scouting Crop Scouting SPARC Plots at South Farm on August 2, 2013 17 SPARC Plots at South Farm on August 28, 2014 18 3
Crop Scouting Nitrogen Stress South View Nitrogen Rate Study at Graves Chapple Farm on August 27, 2013 19 North Plots Corn Cover Crop Plots Image Captured on June 23, 2014 20 North View South View North Plots Corn Cover Crop Plots Image Captured on July 1, 2014 North Plots 21 Corn Cover Crop Plots Image Captured on July 1, 2014 22 North View 23 24 4
Moving Ground Based Sensor to UAVs Crop Scouting Corn Hybrid Differences 25 at Hundley Whaley Farm on August 28, 2013 26 170 acres. 15cm ground resolution. About 20 minutes flying Fixed Wing https://www.facebook.com/voltaerialrobotics 27 Photo from a DJI Phantom 1 with Go Pro 3 camera. Corn field on July 15, 2014 in Cooper County 28 Possibilities with Other Sensors Spray-Swath Overlaps? Thermal (infrared) Livestock detection, sick animals Water temperature, source identification Hyperspectral Crop growth, plant identification LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) Measuring plant height, 3 D terrain mapping Photo credit: www.lidarbasemaps.org/ Use of Multispectral Cameras Old N&S Dead-Furrows 30 5
Monitoring of Beef Cattle and Pastures Lightning strikes Work being conducted through Kansas State University 31 Unmanned Sprayer The Yamaha RMAX crop sprayer (246cc gasoline twin) with an AUW of 207 lb. has an endurance of 60 90 minutes with a payload capacity of 66 lbs. (equivalent to about 10 gallons of gasoline, which could be used for extending endurance) 33 23 cc two cycle engine from a Yamaha weed whacker. A tank of mixed gas keeps the chopper flying for an hour. The G15 weighs 15 lbs. and is capable of carrying 15 lbs. The carbon fiber rotors have a 71 inch span. G15 AutoCopter $50,000 to $75,000 34 The ebee has a flight time of up to 45 minutes allowing to cover areas of up to 2400 acres in a single flight. With its 16MP camera it can shoot aerial imagery at down to 3cm/pixel resolution. Trimble UX5 Aerial Imaging Solution SenseFly ebee $12,000 35 36 6
Cost: $50,000 LA100 Lehmann Aviation $990 http://www.lehmannaviation.com/ 3 feet wingspan 1.9 pounds weight Flight time only 5 minutes 37 6.6 feet wingspan 14 pounds weight payload of 4.4 lbs 30 min of flight time payload of 0.9 lbs 120 min of flight time Volt Aerial Robotics http://www.voltaerialrobotics.com/ Chesterfield, MO 38 Cost: $10,770 Cost for Kit: $7,500 6.6 feet footprint 4.4 pounds max takeoff weight payload of 1.1 lbs 18 min of flight time payload of 0.22 lbs 25 min of flight time Scout Volt Aerial Robotics http://www.voltaerialrobotics.com/ Chesterfield, MO 39 http://www.precisiondrone.com/ Noblesville, Indiana 40 Cost for Kit: $17,500 Cost: $3,698 without camera Pacesetter AG Pro Scout Kit by Aerial Media Pros http://aerialmediapros.com/ http://www.precisiondrone.com/ Costa Mesa, CA Noblesville, Indiana 41 42 7
Cost for Kit: $900 UAV 350 QX AP BLH7900 http://www.bladehelis.com/350qx2ap/ 43 14 inch footprint 2.2 pounds max takeoff weight 10 min of flight time with just a GoPro Hero 3 camera Dji Phantom http://www.dji.com/product/phantom/ Cost (Begin at): $479 Total Kit (Begin at): $1,200 44 Dji Phantom 2 http://www.dji.com/product/phantom 2/ Cost (Begin at): $679 With Zenmuse H3 3D gimbal: $959 45 Dji Phantom 2 http://www.dji.com/product/phantom 2/ Cost (Begin at): $679 Total Kit (Begin at): $2,100 + camera 46 Modified Go Pro Camera with Different Types of UAS Operations Model aircraft (hobby or recreation only) Civil operations (non governmental) Public operations (governmental) Kit with 3 lenses $889 47 Photo credit: www.amazon.com 48 8
Further Interpretations June 25, 2014 Allowed Not Allowed UAV Registration as of Dec. 21, 2015 Applies to: Small unmanned aircraft systems Hobby and recreational use Commercial use Public aircraft statutes Penalties: Operating an unregistered drone after Feb. 19, 2016 could result in a civil penalty of $27,500 Criminal penalties could reach up to $250,000 in fines or three years imprisonment 49 50 Model Aircraft Safety Guidelines Fly below 400 feet & remain clear of surrounding obstacles Keep aircraft within visual line of sight at all times Remain well clear of and do not interfere with manned aircraft operations Don't fly within 5 miles of an airport unless you contact the airport and control tower before flying Don't fly near people or stadiums Don't fly an aircraft that weighs more than 55 lbs. Don't be careless or reckless with your unmanned aircraft you could be fined for endangering people or other aircraft UAS for Civil Operations FAA currently authorizes the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for commercial or business purposes on a case by case basis You may not fly your UAS for commercial purpose without the express permission from the FAA You will need: 1. FAA Section 333 grant of exemption, 2. Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA), 3. An aircraft registered with the FAA, and 4. A pilot with an FAA airman certificate 51 52 Registration small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (suas) (operated outdoors) http://www.faa.gov/uas/registration/ Registration Compliance Dates small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (suas) 53 54 9
Registration Age of Operator and Use small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (suas) Registration Registration Information and Fee small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (suas) 55 56 Registration Certificate of Aircraft Registration small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (suas) FAA Smartphone App B4UFly Example near Castle Rock, CO 57 58 Can I Fly a UAS? Yes, No, Maybe Nationwide Community Based Organization knowbeforeyoufly.org Academy of Model Aeronautics National Model Aircraft Safety Code http://www.modelaircraft.org/files/105.pdf 59 60 10
Final Thoughts There is information in your pastures and fields that remote sensing can help you extract and use Other forms of remote sensing (airplane, satellite) are expensive and frustrating UAS puts the control in your hands either directly or through your adviser Final Thoughts Will agricultural producers want to learn this technology themselves, or pay for the services of a company that can do it for them? Just collecting the images and data won t pay the bills. The data will need to be analyzed and the results put into practice to make the farm or ranch more productive and efficient. Questions?? Robert A. (Bob) Schultheis Natural Resource Engineering Specialist Webster County Extension Center 800 S. Marshall St. Marshfield, MO 65706 Voice: 417 859 2044 Fax: 417 468 2086 E mail: schultheisr@missouri.edu Web: extension.missouri.edu/webster Program Complaint Information To file a program complaint you may contact any of the following: University of Missouri MU Extension AA/EEO Office 109 F. Whitten Hall, Columbia, MO 65211 MU Human Resources Office 130 Heinkel Bldg, Columbia, MO 65211 USDA Office of Civil Rights, Director Room 326 W, Whitten Building 14th and Independence Ave., SW Washington, DC 20250 9410 The University of Missouri does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. 63 11