The use of drones could revolutionize the world of agriculture

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[:is]The use of drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) in agriculture is a increasingly common practice, and it is that the good results in terms of efficiency are confirmed by farmers and researchers.  

"The Agricultural Revolution of the drones is in the making."

However, there are other, more striking uses, either because they are bets by the big brands or because their applications seem to be 'more direct' for us... like when Amazon reveals its program for sending packages through these devices or the UK police get the green light to use them as surveillance systems. However, the benefits of its application in the agricultural sector could be enormous, since the use and improvement of this technology has the future assured. Even more, it has a present, since in some countries they have been operating in the fields for a long time.

Its help in maximizing yields is recognized, since unlike the farmer who must move around the field, looking "by eye" for deficiencies that may exist in the crop, the drone flies over the field and manages to gather information on the state of the crops, with greater precision, thanks to the aerial capture of thermal and multispectral photographs, as well as time-lapse cameras for monitoring the fruit and its phenology, and spectral detectors for the determination of chemical parameters.

With the arrival of technologies such as satellites to the world in the 70s, the way of obtaining images of territories was revolutionized, which are captured, processed and taken to digital maps where vegetation indices are analyzed, for example, allowing a simple method of observing crop problems. This type of remote sensing is used by many nations to measure agricultural productivity, susceptibility to drought, land characterization, and for biomass assessment.

Currently, another type of remote sensors are unmanned aircraft (UAVs, UAVs or drones), which capture very high resolution images and provide real-time and precise information on crop fields. These data are necessary for plantation managers to know about the evolution, increase or decrease of plant pests, weeds, diseases, irrigation, nutrition and vigor.  

Early identification of these conditions allows management decisions to be made critically, quickly and proactively to avoid crop loss.

This, indicated the agronomist engineer and director of INIA's national precision agriculture program, Stanley Best, makes it possible to remedy problems effectively, in the exact areas where it is required and at a lower cost. “When I enter the orchard and see that I have dry plants, it is a symptom of a lack of irrigation, but it can be detected much earlier through multispectral photography, as well as nutrition problems and others. This allows me to respond before the problem advances and becomes uncontrollable, and in the areas that really need it, which also means that we can do the remediation at a lower cost and with fewer inputs, which implies a more sustainable agriculture”he expressed.

According to Best, "the producer needs to have accurate information to take action, and today, technology allows us to tell the producer what to do and how, efficiently."

S. Best also explains the importance of knowing the potential of these new technologies, since they have useful results in highly varied agronomic practices: "We can improve the efficiency of the field in different stages of management, such as fertilization and the application of agrochemicals, even harvesting, for example, knowing through the polyphenols the blocks in which the fruit is of the best quality or ripeness, which would allow me to know where I harvest manually or where mechanized"... including other striking ones such as the spread of beneficial mites to fight pests naturallyusing biological control.
The possibilities of use seem to be endless, and that is why at IDEAGRO we are widely interested in knowing its uses, possibilities and evolution, because we think they will be a key piece in agriculture soon...

In addition to the US, they are already being used in countries such as Japan, Spain and Brazil, among others. For example, according to recent studies by the Association for Unmanned Aircraft System International (AUVSI), "The economic impact of the application of drones in US agriculture in 2015 would be +2,000 million dollars, in addition to the creation of +20,000 jobs."

How do drones 'work'? What can they bring us?

A single drone can monitor hundreds of hectares precisely, evaluating the conditions of the land, in order to collect information on hydration, temperature or the growth rate of crops. One of the most important functions attributed to these devices is the premature localization of diseases. In this way, pests that ruin part of the harvest can be avoided.

All this information provides a Significant cost savings for farmers. Avoiding pests also contributes to reduce the amount of chemicals used in crops. Not only are the crops grown less artificially, but it is not necessary to buy as many herbicides and pesticides as before. When you have to use them, the drones themselves can throw them, just like fertilizers.

The devices can control how the watering works and also serve as makeshift scarecrows, keeping birds away. They are capable of sending photographs and even video in real time to a center where the state of the crops is observed. These types of operations have already been put into practice in some places. One of the most advanced countries is Japan.

In the country of the Rising Sun, a drone model, the Yamaha RMAX, has been working in the fields for two decades, taking care of throwing pesticides and fertilizers. Its history comes from ancient times. In 1983, the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture was concerned about the aging of the rural population. To alleviate this problem, it was proposed to modernize the field as a way to attract young people.

Yamaha was asked to start developing an unmanned vehicle to assist in field tasks and the first units were introduced in the 1990s. At this stage a 40% of the Japanese rice fields have a drone flying over them. The technology has been exported to South Korea and recently to Australia, a land where large plantations abound. The Japanese company Yamaha hopes to be able to enter the drone market in the United States in 2015, directing its product to crops such as grapes, pistachios or almonds, apart from rice.

What are the latest advances in the use of drones?

Universities have also realized the potential of these devices and are carrying out research in the practical field. The University of California is testing the capability of small unmanned helicopters capable of treat vineyards on inaccessible terrain. And at the University of Kansas they are creating maps detailing nitrogen deficiencies in the soil to help farmers apply fertilizers in the most needy areas.

In academic circles there is the conviction that "drones can revolutionize agriculture, reducing the need for pesticides and increasing production."

Universities and companies have their eyes set on September 2015, the date on which the Federal Aviation Administration is expected to establish regulations for the use of these devices. A succulent economic cake that, according to the AUVSi, "could generate enormous benefits in the US economy."

For now, and despite its potential benefits, the FAA has not decided to take the step of authorizing drones for commercial use, mainly because he fears that, although they fly below 400 feet -122 meters-, they could interfere with the national airspace and cause complications. Many States are trying to pass laws to achieve a moratorium that limits the use of drones beyond 2015, fearing that these devices could be used for less innocent proposals than their commercial use...

In Spain the situation is not very different, and it is that drones cannot fly freely or wherever they want... The AESA (State Aviation Safety Agency) does not allow flying over urban centers, more than 300 feet and less than 8km from an airport. For any other flight with drones, it is necessary to request a flight permit in advance and that is usually enough (according to several readers on LinkedIN). Of course, you must obtain the VLOS and BVLOS license, have the practical exam approved with the aircraft with which you are going to work and register the company as an operator with the AESA.

With information from:
Todrone – http://www.todrone.com/uso-drones-agricultura/
The country - http://tecnologia.elpais.com/tecnologia/2013/06/13/actualidad/1371137524_220135.html[:in]

drone 1

The use of drones (UAVs) in agriculture is a growing common practice, and it's good results in terms of efficiency are confirmed both by farmers and researchers. “The agriculture of drones is budding”.

 

 

However, there are other striking uses because international corporations are betting or because their applications appear to have a 'more direct' application in today's world needs… like when Amazon revealed its program for sending packets across by using these devices or the UK police department planned to use them as a surveillance system . However, the benefits of its application in the agricultural sector could be enormous, and that the use and improvement of this technology has an assured future. More even it has a present, because in some countries drones are being operating in agriculture fields long time ago…

The drones support for maximizing yields its already recognized, since unlike the farmer, who must move over the field for searching crop deficiencies that may exist in culture, the drone, just flying over the field is able to gather huge information on crops status; and more accurately, thanks to the 'hot air' and multispectral photographs, plus time-lapse cameras to monitor fruit and it's phenology or for determining chemical parameters with its spectral detectors.

With the advent of technologies such as satellites to the world in the 70s, there was a revolution on how to take pictures over territories. The gathered data, once processed and brought to digital maps allowed to obtain information like vegetation indexes, allowing an easy method to see and analyze crops and culture problems. This type of remote sensors is used by many countries to measure the agriculture productivity, drought susceptibility, the land characterization or the biomass available.

mapeo sateliteCurrently, other remote sensors used in agricultural practices are drones (UAVs), which capture very high resolution images and provide real-time and accurately information from crop fields. These data is necessary for today's farmer's management, to learn about evolution, increase or decrease of plant pests, weeds, diseases, irrigation, nutrition and vigor related to crops. Early identification of these conditions allows to make critical management decisions quickly and proactively in order to prevent crops, losses and or damages.

All the problems firstly explained said the agronomist and Director of the National Program for Precision Farming of INIA, Stanley Best, can effectively addressed in the exact areas where required at lower cost. «When I move into the culture and see that I have dried plants, it is a symptom of lack of irrigation, but can be detected much earlier through multispectral photography, as well as nutrition and other problems. That allows us to respond before the issue forward and becomes uncontrollable, and in areas that really need it, which also means that we do remediation at lower cost and with fewer agricultural inputs, which implies a more sustainable agriculture» he said.

According to Best, "the producer needs to have accurate information to take action, and today, technology allows us to tell the producers what to do in a more efficiently way".

Best also explains the importance of understanding the potential of these new technologies as they have useful results in varied agronomic practices, «we keep improving the efficiency of the field at different stages of management, such as fertilizer and pesticide application, including , harvesting, for example, being able to decide where to harvest manually, or where mechanized”.

drone 2The application possibilities seems to be endless, and that's why in IDEAGRO we are widely interested in knowing its uses, capabilities and evolution, because we think will be key in agriculture not to late…

In addition to the US, the drones are already used among others in countries like Japan, Spain and Brazil. For example, according to recent studies by the International Association for Unmanned System Devices, "The economic impact of drones' application in US agriculture by 2015 would be of about 2,000 million, creating 20,000 jobs".

How drones 'work'? What else can bring?

A single drone can accurately monitor hundreds of hectares in order to gather information on hydration, temperature or the crops growth rate. One of the most important functions attributed to these devices is premature location of diseases and pests. This way farmers will be able to avoid the complete loss of crops caused every year by these problems.

All this information provides significant cost savings for farmers. Prevent pests also reduces the amount of chemicals used in crops. Not only the crops are grown more naturally but also are not necessary to buy so many herbicides and pesticides as before and when necessary, drones could be used to spread fertilizers much more efficiently and accurately.

The drones could also help controlling how the irrigation works and also serve as makeshift scarecrow, to keep the birds away from crops when almost ready to be harvested. They can even send video and pictures in real time to the farmer's smartphone so they can know how the crop is at every time from elsewhere. Such operations have already been implemented, and nowadays one of the most advanced countries is Japan.

drone 3
In the Land of the Rising, a drone model, the Yamaha RMAX has been working in the fields since two decades ago, dealing with pesticides and fertilizers spread over the culture. Its history is ancient. In 1983, the Ministry of Agriculture of Japan was concerned about the aging of the rural population. To alleviate this problem was proposed to modernize the country as a way to attract young people and increase productivity.

Yamaha was charged to develop an aerial unmanned vehicle to help in farm work, and in the 90s the first units were introduced… By now 40% of Japanese rice cultures have a drone. The technology has been exported to South Korea and most recently to Australia, a land where large plantations abound. The Japanese company Yamaha hopes to enter the US market drones in 2015, orienting its product to crops such as maize, grapes, pistachios or almonds, apart from rice.

What are the latest developments in drones use?

Universities have also noticed the potential of these devices and are conducting research in to the practical usage of these devices. The University of California is testing the ability of small unmanned helicopters capable of treating vineyards located over inaccessible terrains, and at the University of Kansas they are creating maps detailing the nitrogen deficiencies in the soil to help farmers to apply fertilizers where needed.

In the academic circles it is believed that "drones can revolutionize agriculture, reducing pesticide needs and increasing crops production."

Universities and companies worldwide have their eyes on September 2015, date on which it is expected that the Federal Aviation Administration established to regulate the use of these devices. A hearty economic market that according to AUVSI, "could generate huge profits in the US economy."
For now, and despite its potential benefits, the FAA has decided not to take the step of authorizing the drones for commercial use, mainly because it fears that, while flying below 400 feet -122 meters- could interfere with national airspace and cause complications. Many States are trying to pass laws to achieve a moratorium limiting the use of drones beyond 2015, fearing that these devices can be used for less innocent uses than their commercial proposals…

In Spain the situation is not very different, and the drones can't fly freely wherever they want… The EASA (State Agency for Aviation Safety) don't permit flying over urban areas, more than 300 feet and less than 8km from an airport. For any other drone flight, it is necessary to ask for permission before and that is usually enough (as we were pointed out by several LinkedIN readers). Fur using drones it's currently necessary to have VLOS & BVLOS licenses and approve a practical test with the drones it's to be used. Also it's mandatory to register the company as operator in the EFSA.

With information from:
Todrone – http://www.todrone.com/uso-drones-agricultura/
The country - http://tecnologia.elpais.com/tecnologia/2013/06/13/actualidad/1371137524_220135.html[:]

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