3. UAS in Agriculture
What are UAS?
Impacts of ND Test Site
Typical Equipment
UAS in Agriculture Today
Current US Regulations
2014 UAS at NDSU/UND
Current ND Commercial Activity
Future of UAV in Agriculture
Privacy Issues
4. Impacts of North Dakota Test Site
• Allow the FAA to develop research and
operational experiences
• Help ensure the safe integration of UAS into
the nation's airspace
– “sense and avoid,”
– command and control,
– ground control standards
– human factors
– airworthiness
– lost link procedures
– interface with the air traffic control
5. FAA Test Site
• University of Alaska
• standards for unmanned aircraft categories, and state monitoring
• State of Nevada
– operator standards and certification requirements
• New York’s Griffiss International Airport
– test and evaluation
• North Dakota Department of Commerce
– airworthiness data and validate high reliability link technology
• Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi
– safety requirements for UAS vehicles
• Virginia Tech
– UAS failure mode testing and technical risks areas
8. What are UAS for Agriculture?
Small Unmanned Aircraft
18” – 10’
Remote controlled or Auto-pilot
Under 1000’
Cameras: Digital Images, Video, Thermal
9. • Weight = 2 to 6 pounds
• Wing span = 2 to 8 feet
• Battery powered
• Various Cameras
UAS
10. Equipment
E382 Fixed Wing Package $2,000
• Skywalker Airframe, 188cm Wingspan
• ArduPilot Mega 2.5 Autopilot
– Includes GPS, IMU, Pressure Sensor and Flight Data Log
• SX260 HS Camera with CHDK Installed
• 3DR Telemetry Radios
• Remote Control Unit
• Battery & Charger
• 4 Extra Batteries
• http://www.event38.com/
11. Typical Equipment
Aphex Hexacopter Camera $ 2,000
• NX1000 Camera and Mount
• Remote Control Unit
• Telemetry:3DR Radios, Air and Ground,
• Batteries
• Battery Charger
• Spare Parts:
• 5 Propeller Pairs
• 2 Arms
• 2 Legs
• 1 Motor
• http://www.event38.com/
12. Typical Equipment
Aparotors - Kit: $3800
• Multi-rotor kit fully assembled
• Radio controller and receiver
• Stabilized Camera Gimbal
• 2 batteries (flight time 10 min / battery)
• Battery Charger (25 minutes)
• Camera GoPro3 with 8GB card
– http://aparotors.com/
13. Equipment
Precision Scout - Kit: $17,500
• Real-time live feed recorded and streamed to the ground
• GPS location and proper flight orientation
• communication fails, will safely return home
• •Controller •GPS Unit
• •Hi-resolution Video/Still Camera •Telemetry
• •Dual Battery Charger •6 Batteries
• •16gb micro SD memory card •Lifetime Protective Case
• http://aparotors.com/
14. Equipment
SensFly eBee Package $35,000
• Case with foam protection
• 1 eBee central body
• 1 pair of wings
• 10 spare propellers
• 2 Lithium-Polymer battery packs
• Lithium-Polymer battery charger
• 2.4 GHz USB radio modem
• 1 remote control
• 1 still camera
• 1 USB cable for interfacing with camera and on-board autopilot
https://www.sensefly.com/
15. Typical Equipment
Trimble UX5 Aerial Imaging Rover ($50,000)
• EPP foam; carbon frame structure
• Electric pusher propeller; brushless 700 W
motor
• 14.8 V, 6000 mAh battery
• 16.1 MP mirrorless APSC camera
• 0.94 - 9.4 in image resolution
http://www.trimble.com/Survey/ux5.aspx
16. Typical Equipment
Multi-spectral Camera ($3,800)
• Size 4.5 x 3.0 x 0.9 in.
• Weight 3.53 oz.
• Visible light and near-infrared
wavelengths
• Software: PixelWrench2, processing
multispectral images of crops
• http://fieldofviewllc.com/
17. Typical Equipment
Thermal Imaging Camera ($10,000)
• Thermal Imager - Uncooled VOx
Microbolometer
• Spectral Band 7.5 - 13.5 μm
• Time to Image ~4.0 sec
• Size (w/o lens) 1.75" x 1.75" x 1.18"
• RS-232 Compatible Communication 57,600 &
921,600 baud
• Image Processing & Display Controls NTSC/PAL
(field switchable)
• http://www.flir.com/US/
18. Thermal Imaging
Takes a Crop’s Temperature
Plants Absorb and Reflect Light Red Absorbed, NIR Reflected
• Locating insect
Infestations
• Early Disease Pressure
• Under-irrigated Field
Sections.
21. Data Processing Software
Agisoft PhotoScan ($3,800)
• Aerial Triangulation
• Polygonal Model Generation (plain / textured)
• Setting Coordinate System
• Geo-referenced Digital Elevation Model (DEM)
Generation
• Geo-referenced Orthophoto Generation
• http://fieldofviewllc.com/
22. Current FAA Rules
• Private, Recreation Use
• On-farm?
• University: Certificate of Authorization
• Airframe
• Location
• Operator
• Dates
• 6-9 Months
23. NDSU Carrington Research Center
• Valid Uses of UAS in Ag
– Crop Research
– Livestock Research
• Feedlot Bedding Materials
• Animal Body Temperatures
UAS at NDSU and UND
Proof of Concept
24. NDSU – UND Collaborations
Agricultural Research School of Aerospace
Research Extension Centers UAS Center
Extension Service Remote Sensing
25.
26. Commercial Service in 2014
• North Country Ag Services - Kris Poulson
– Contract to fly fields on schedule, or when requested
– Purchased UTC Aerospace Systems – will manufacture UAS
– Quad and Fixed wing
– Process data
• Field of View
– Cameras and Sensors
– Training
– Image Analyses
27. Potential Applications
• Near Real-time Crop Monitoring
• In-season Fertilization
• Pest Location and Movements
• Weed Infestations
• Monitoring Livestock on Rangeland
• Others …….....................
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