1. The Use of UAVs in Precision Agriculture
By: Bryce Payne

2. What’s a UAV?
is an acronym for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, which is defined as a powered, aerial vehicle that does not carry a human operator, uses aerodynamic forces to provide vehicle lift, can fly autonomously or be piloted remotely, can be expendable or recoverable, and can carry a lethal or nonlethal payload. (U.S. Department of Defense)

3. Benefits Less manpower required Less maintenance More flexible
Capable of doing jobs that are hard, repetitive, and dangerous.

4. Current Use
Survey
Aerial photos
NDVI
Thermal images

5. UAVs in Agriculture
Im IV-A
Pteryx UAV
CropCam

6. Cropcam
image-on-demand and is an inexpensive alternative to satellite, or, flying an airplane over a field.
provide images of crops, drainage, environmental, spraying, precision agriculture, etc.

7. Pteryx UAV
flying multiple missions per day without reprogramming the autopilot
ability to rearrange camera head interior with minimal effort
single button operation
no need for groundstation
enclosing the camera for better protection against dirt
ability to accommodate most powerful compact digital camera models, weight range g

8. Potential UAV Sprayers Yamaha's RMAX
Cost: RC $150,000~$230,000, Autonomous $1,000,000 (ground station, antennas, computers, monitors and two complete autonomous airframes and a four camera system)

9. Challenges Cost Technical Experience Software Crashes Liability
Farming Traditions

10. Conclusion
UAVs can be very effective in high value crops (fruits and vegetables) and large scale farms.
As the price of electronics goes down the price for a UAV will go down as well.
Use of UAVs will become a great tool to the farmer in surveying and possibly in pesticide spraying.

11. Questions?