Unmanned Aerial Systems for Agriculture by Bob Schultheis Natural Resource Engineering Specialist for Greene County Soils & Crops Conference Springfield, MO March 18, 2014 Special thanks to Bill Wiebold, MU Extension Plant Sciences, for much of this presentation
Issues Who can and cannot fly UAS? Privacy concerns What can I do with UAS? What is possible in short-term future with UAS? Photo credit: www.amazon.com
Issues Who can and cannot fly UAS? Privacy concerns What can I do with UAS? What is possible in short-term future with UAS?
National Airspace Classifications MLS = Mean Sea Level AGL = Above Ground Level
I m not a lawyer and do not play one on TV Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is primary federal agency responsible for airspace Airspace below 700 feet above ground surface is generally viewed as non-navigational (G) Additional controls below 700 feet near various sizes of airports (E, D, C, B) Federal, state, and local laws most likely to address privacy
Farmers may operate an unmanned aircraft over their own property for personal use Guidelines for the operation of model aircraft, such as those published by the Academy of Model Aeronautics, may be used by farmers as reference for safe model UAS operations. Source: Nov. 25, 2013 news story by Oklahoma City Channel 9 News
FAA advice to model aircraft operators in AC-97 published in 1981 Safety is primary concern 1. Operate away from populated areas including parks, schools, hospitals, and churches 2. Do not fly near spectators until aircraft is flight-tested and airworthy 3. Do not fly higher than 400 feet above ground 4. If within 3 miles of airport, notify several classes of airport personnel 5. Give right away to full-size aircraft My advice keep UAS within line of sight and practice, practice, practice
Issues Who can and cannot fly UAS? Privacy concerns What can I do with UAS? What is possible in short-term future with UAS?
People and what they are doing are clearly visible Sight crosses your boundaries New laws are likely Laws already control taking picture and videos of people, especially in areas where they have reasonable expectation of privacy
UAS Regulation Questions? What is an appropriate law enforcement use for an UAS? When do you have to have a warrant? When don't you have to have a warrant? What's the appropriate governmental use for an UAS? Size and type for private use? Certification for the operator? Federal regulations due in 2015?
Issues Who can and cannot fly UAS? Privacy concerns What can I do with UAS? What is possible in short-term future with UAS? Photo credit: CBS News
Video of UAS Use
What can farmers do with an UAS? 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 You have probably thought of several uses
Most Common Uses by Farmers Directed scouting of animals and crops, which involves ground-truthing what you observe from air Cattle counts, rustler monitoring Crop condition
Work being conducted through Kansas State University Monitoring of beef cattle and pastures
170 acres. 15cm ground resolution. About 20 minutes flying Fixed Wing Nitrogen stress Photo credit: https://www.facebook.com/voltaerialrobotics
Assess stand establishment of crop
Issues Who can and cannot fly UAS? Privacy concerns What can I do with UAS? What is possible in short-term future with UAS?
UAS best suited for the Four D s Dirty Dangerous Difficult Dull
UAS Possibilities Crop and animal monitoring Environmental research Disaster assessment Tornadoes, floods, wildfires, earthquakes, etc. Agri-tourism Package delivery Entertainment Unique photography Remote dog walking Photo credit: CBS News
Possibilities with Other Sensors FAA does not allow commercial uses of UAS, but that will likely change within a year Federal regulations due in 2015 Sensors: multispectral, hyper-spectral, infrared, temperature, LIDAR Following examples are from our other remote sensing work
Lightning strikes
Crop health & spray overlap
Crop yields on different soil types
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
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 University of Missouri Extension provides equal opportunity to all participants in extension programs and activities, and for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without discrimination on the basis of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or status as a protected veteran.