UAVs: Where Are We And What's Next - John Barker, OSU Extension, from the 2020 Conservation Tillage and Technology Conference, held March 3-4, 2020, Ada, OH, USA.
CCXG global forum, April 2024, Brian Motherway and Paolo Frankl
John Barker - UAVs: Where Are We And What's Next
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OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
UAV’S: Where are We and What’s Next
John Barker
OSU Extension
Knox County
barker.41@osu.edu
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OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
UAV’S: Where are We and What’s Next
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Drone
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OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
UAV’S: Where are We and What’s Next
13%
8%
18%
33%
28%
Will Drone Technology Be Used On Your Farm
1. I am Using Drone Technology Now
2. I plan to use a drone this year
3. Maybe within 5 years
4. Don’t plan to use one
5. Don’t know
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OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
UAV’S: Where are We and What’s Next
63%
19%
12%
0%
6%
How Do You Envision Utilizing Drone Technology On You Farm
1. Scouting
2. Imagery
3. Video
4. Applying Inputs
5. Other
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OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
UAV’S: Where are We and What’s Next
27%
29%
11%
4%
13%
What Barriers Are Preventing You From Using A Drone
1. Cost (ROI)
2. Regulations
3. Drone Performance
4. Time
5. Technologically Challenged
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OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
UAV’S: Where are We and What’s Next
Gartner Hype Curve for Ag Tech
•Peak of Inflated Expectations: Early publicity produces a number of success
stories — often accompanied by scores of failures. Some companies take action;
many do not.
•Trough of Disillusionment: Interest wanes as experiments and implementations
fail to deliver. Producers of the technology shake out or fail. Investments continue
only if the surviving providers improve their products to the satisfaction of early
adopters.
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OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
UAV’S: Where are We and What’s Next
Question You Must Answer
1. What do you want to do with your drone?
2. What type of drone do you need?
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OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
UAV’S: Where are We and What’s Next
Fixed-Wing Multi-rotor
Types
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OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
UAV’S: Where are We and What’s Next
Question You Must Answer
1. What do you want to do with your drone?
2. What type of drone do you need?
3. What additional equipment do you need?
4. What software do you need?
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OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
UAV’S: Where are We and What’s Next
Drone
Communications
CamerasGPS Auto-Pilot
Software
Computer
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OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
UAV’S: Where are We and What’s Next
Question You Must Answer
1. What do you want to do with your drone?
2. What type of drone do you need?
3. What additional equipment do you need?
4. What software do you need?
5. How much do you want to spend?
6. Do you have the time?
7. Do you need a license/Regulations?
8. Do you need insurance
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OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
UAV’S: Where are We and What’s Next
What’s Next
Applying Inputs
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OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
UAV’S: Where are We and What’s Next
What’s Next
Applying Inputs
Drone Swarms
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OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
UAV’S: Where are We and What’s Next
What’s Next
Applying Inputs
Drone Swarms
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OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
UAV’S: Where are We and What’s Next
What’s Next
Applying Inputs
Drone Swarms
Plant Pollination
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OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
UAV’S: Where are We and What’s Next
Sensors - What if we could …
1) Fly a pasture/hay field to determine optimum harvest time
2) Fly a corn field detect weeds and create a postemenrgence herbicide
application map
3) Fly a bean field and create an application map for an insecticide rescue
treatment
4) Fly a corn field and create a late season nitrogen application map
5) Fly a field and create a predictive application map for disease and fungicide
application
6) Develop a sensor to create multiple maps with one flight.
7) Develop a sprayer with multiple compartments to make all of these
applications in one trip
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OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
UAV’S: Where are We and What’s Next
John Barker
OSU Extension
Knox County
barker.41@osu.edu
Questions??
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OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
UAV’S: Where are We and What’s Next
27%
29%
11%
4%
13%
What Barriers Are Preventing You From Using A Drone
1. Cost (ROI)
2. Regulations
3. Drone Performance
4. Time
5. Technologically Challenged
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OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
UAV’S: Where are We and What’s Next
Fixed-Wing
Pros:
Longer Flight Time
Longer Battery Life 40 – 60 Minutes
Cover More Acres Per Flight
Fast Flight Speed
Cons:
Mechanical Launching Assistance
Requires a Landing Area
Can’t Hover
Harder To Fly
More Expensive
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OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
UAV’S: Where are We and What’s Next
Pros:
Vertical Take off and Landing
Precise Positioning (Hovering)
Low/Variable Speed Capabilities
Easier To Fly
Can Fly In Smaller Areas
Good Camera Control
Cons:
Shorter Flight Time
Shorter Battery Life 20 – 30 Minutes
Cover Less Acres
Multi-rotor
To some the word DRONE leads to negative thoughts
Ground Hog Hunter
N=281
Farmers that weren’t going to use a drone or hadn’t done it yet
How many of these have I crashed?
Show of hands
5, 4, …1
WOW do guys don’t think much of my piloting ability do you
Play, Scout, Imagery, Other
Fixed –wing vs. Rotor
Camera, Tablet, iPad
Auto-Pilot, Stitching Image processing – Computer, hard drive capacity
$‘s – Cameras & Software can be expensive - ROI
Stitching takes time
What other regulations do you need to be concerned with?
Crashes happen – COST to replace
Now lets answer some of those questions!
What do you want to do with your drone?
There are different features/benefits /options with each different style.
This may lead you to chose one type over the other.
Play, Scout, Imagery, Other
Fixed –wing vs. Rotor
Camera, Tablet, iPad
Auto-Pilot, Stitching Image processing – Computer, hard drive capacity
$‘s – Cameras & Software can be expensive - ROI
Stitching takes time
What other regulations do you need to be concerned with?
Crashes happen – COST to replace
The components
Puzzle pieces – The challenge is getting them to all fit together!
Play, Scout, Imagery, Other
Fixed –wing vs. Rotor
Camera, Tablet, iPad
Auto-Pilot, Stitching Image processing – Computer, hard drive capacity
$‘s – Cameras & Software can be expensive - ROI
Stitching takes time
What other regulations do you need to be concerned with?
Crashes happen – COST to replace
How much did this drone cost
Do you have insurance
DATA
From day 1 Precision Ag has been about gathering data
Big data is the newest phrase
Is a drone any different than a Yield Monitor?
Using both to gather data to make management decisions for your farm
DATA
From day 1 Precision Ag has been about gathering data
Big data is the newest phrase
Is a drone any different than a Yield Monitor?
Using both to gather data to make management decisions for your farm
Locate tile lines, can do the same with google earth
Map drainage patterns
Help to verify management zones
Explain Field:
2X Manure
No Manure
Treated beans vs. non treated
Tillage vs. no-till
Beans at the south end were 5 bu. Better than the north end
Tire tracks?
Split power pole
28 application – last field,
Leaving last field broke nozzle, in hurry to finish before rain,
farmer just “stuck in” a nozzle to finish
What is the real question we should ask?
What rate was coming out of that nozzle!
N plots lower left
See 0 rate
3) Think outside of the box
Research in Japan now – it works drone 4 cm weighs 15 grams
3) Think outside of the box
Research in Japan now – it works drone 4 cm weighs 15 grams
Going forward we must overcome these barriers to gain adoption
Limited uses!
Best Battery life
More options
Limited battery life
Locate tile lines, can do the same with google earth
Map drainage patterns
Help to verify management zones
I really liked this one, just couldn’t keep this one in the air
Lost communication with controller
Battery vibrated loose - Velcro
Motor seized
Over heated variable rate controller – Fire
Gyro