New Crop Management Solutions Are Taking Off

Posted by Paul Rusnak|December 5, 2014

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All Aboard

Three wagons, full of anxious attendees, made the trek from the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center out to one of its open fields for the much-anticipated UAV demonstration.

Photo by Paul Rusnak
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Gather Around

Interest in this subject matter was apparent by the turnout and attention given during opening remarks.

Photo by Frank Giles
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Pre-Flight Instruction
UF/IFAS researcher Dr. Amr H. Abd-Elrahman welcomed onlookers and gave a summary about some of the applications the UAV technology is affording researchers regarding geomatics (science that deals with collection, analysis, and interpretation of data relating to the earth's surface), including:
- high accuracy, high-resolution imagery
- target identification
- target classification
- maximum coverage of ground area
Photo by Paul Rusnak
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Learning Curve
Dr. Raymond Carthy, head of UF/IFAS' Wildlife Ecology and Conservation department, provided information on the advantages of using UAVs for ecology and conservation purposes. Some of the pros are:
- helps keep biologists on the ground
- ease of use
- enhances existing ground and air-based survey methods
- it's more budget friendly for natural resource budgets
Photo by Frank Giles
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Ready For Takeoff

In the distance, part of the UF/IFAS Unmanned Aircraft Systems Research Program team readies one of their vehicles for departure.

Photo by Frank Giles
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Off We Go!
Just like that, the Kevlar/carbon-based aircraft was off the ground. Some of the aerospace engineering features and benefits of the UF-built vehicle include:
- autonomous flight control
- long-life battery power
- rapid deployment
- the ability to hand-launch it from an airboat
- amphibious operation
Photo by Frank Giles
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Any Questions?

UF/IFAS Unmanned Aircraft Systems Research Program coordinator Matthew Burgess (center) gave specs on the UF-created UAVs to an interested crowd who attended the on-site demo and answered multiple questions about the UAV's capabilities and durability.

Photo by Paul Rusnak
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Up-Close Look

This particular aircraft features a wingspan of nearly nine feet and is built on an frame created specifically for operation in wetlands-type terrain. While FAA sorts out regulations for these types of crafts, UF/IFAS researchers will continue exploring the outer limits of this technology.

Photo by Paul Rusnak

During the 2014 Florida Ag Expo, gobs of attendees left lunch early for a chance to watch a special unmanned aerial vehicle (aka, “drone”) demonstration.

The buzz was building about this new addition to the Expo agenda all the way up to departure of the three large tractor-pulled wagons filled to capacity.

The unique educational session lured those interested in this high-flying technology and how it can be applied to agriculture out to the field.

Scan the slideshow above to find out what was seen and discussed during the demo.