Farm drones have the potential to help farmers increase yields and reduce costs. Drones equipped with sensors can monitor crop health and detect problems like disease. This allows farmers to only apply water and chemicals where needed instead of across the entire field. Agriculture is seen as the best initial market for commercial drone use since drone flights over private land for agricultural purposes face fewer regulations compared to other industries. Farmers could use drones to precisely map their fields and better plan crop management.

1. FARM DRONES!
Chris Anderson
FARM DRONES!
Chris Anderson

3. QuickTime™ and a
H.264 decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Looper (2012)
QuickTime™ and a
H.264 decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Looper (2012)

4. HE BIGGEST
MARKET:
nchanged for last 1,000
years:
ne-pixel-per-row analog
sensor network
ose plant used to spot
fungal infections infungal infections in
vineyards)
T COMMERC
MARKET: Agriculture

5. Big Data Agriculture
rm inputs are wasted due to lost
• Opportunity: "
farming
to
where they’re needed.
0.5x
rm inputs are wasted due to lost
ation (the “open loop” problem)
Big Data Agriculture
Opportunity: "Closed-loop
farming". Use aerial data ca
to use chemicals/water/lab
where they’re needed.

6. Why agriculture?
hest Economic
Benefit
t disease/problems
er
less chemicals and
er (save money,
er for food and
Benefit
er for food and
ronment)
ove productivity
Why agriculture?
Lowest Regulat
Barrier
• Two words: private l
• Safe: under 400ft, vi
line of sight, no built
areas, few obstructio
no people
Barrier
no people
• When used by farme
for their own purpos
non-commercial

8. Why agriculture?
ghest Economic
ot disease/problems
er
e less chemicals and
er (save money,
er for food and
ghest Economic
Benefit
er for food and
ironment)
rove productivity
Why agriculture?
Lowest Regulatory
• Two words: private lan
• Safe: under 400ft, visu
line of sight, no built-u
areas, few obstruction
no people
Lowest Regulatory
Barrier
no people
• When used by farmers
their own purposes,

11. farm
ablet
Watch drone
map farm
Features:
•Precise georeferencing
•Real
•Multiple aircraft control
•Vision
Watch drone
map farm
Precise georeferencing
Real-time path planning
Multiple aircraft control
Vision-based event detection

15. Plants show damage in
infrared and near
(Chlorophyll absorbs infrared light. Damaged
plants have less chlorophyll)
Plants show damage in
infrared and near-infrared
(Chlorophyll absorbs infrared light. Damaged
plants have less chlorophyll)

24. Questions?Questions?