1. Precision Agriculture in Agricultural Aviation Jonathan Kelly

3. Agricultural Aviation Started in 1921 in Ohio in a Curtiss JN-6 by Lt. John Macready spraying lead arsenate dust over catalpa trees to kill moth larvae Started in 1921 in Ohio in a Curtiss JN-6 by Lt. John Macready spraying lead arsenate dust over catalpa trees to kill moth larvae Sprayed mostly dry chemicals in the early days, hence the name “cropdusters” Sprayed mostly dry chemicals in the early days, hence the name “cropdusters” Used mostly war surplus aircraft (Stearmans), but today use specialized aircraft, such as Air Tractor or Thrush Used mostly war surplus aircraft (Stearmans), but today use specialized aircraft, such as Air Tractor or Thrush Today ag aircraft are used for chemical application, fertilization, firefighting, and remote sensing Today ag aircraft are used for chemical application, fertilization, firefighting, and remote sensing

4. Agricultural Aviation Regulated by State and Federal Departments of Agriculture, as well as FAR part 137 Regulated by State and Federal Departments of Agriculture, as well as FAR part 137 Have come a long way in the past 10-20 years in developing better aircraft and systems to improve efficiency of aerial application Have come a long way in the past 10-20 years in developing better aircraft and systems to improve efficiency of aerial application Major advances include GPS, flow rate controllers, variable rate technology, and use of remote sensing Major advances include GPS, flow rate controllers, variable rate technology, and use of remote sensing

5. GPS Swath Guidance Systems GPS was a big step towards precision in aerial application GPS was a big step towards precision in aerial application Hemisphere Air (SatLoc) most used GPS by pilots Hemisphere Air (SatLoc) most used GPS by pilots

6. Flow Rate Controllers Adjusts flow rate for groundspeed (constant-rate applications) Adjusts flow rate for groundspeed (constant-rate applications) Adjusts flow rate for application rate required by management zone (variable- rate applications) Adjusts flow rate for application rate required by management zone (variable- rate applications) Houma Avionics, Inc., AutoCal II Houma Avionics, Inc., AutoCal II Controls output from spray pump Controls output from spray pump

7. AutoCal Automatic Flow Controller

8. Variable Rate Technology in Ag Aircraft Uses a combination of GPS, Flow rate controllers and a hydraulically-operated pump Uses a combination of GPS, Flow rate controllers and a hydraulically-operated pump Kawak Aviation Technologies Hydraulic spray system Kawak Aviation Technologies Hydraulic spray system Changes rates in milliseconds Changes rates in milliseconds

9. Hydraulic pump

10. Flow rate changes with hydraulic pump

11. Challenges in Variable Rate Application using Ag Aircraft Spray Drift Spray Drift Turbulence of airflow around the airplane Turbulence of airflow around the airplane Height above canopy Height above canopy Aircraft speed (120-150mph)– demands an extremely fast-responding system Aircraft speed (120-150mph)– demands an extremely fast-responding system Nozzles – need nozzles that keep the correct droplet size through changing boom pressures Nozzles – need nozzles that keep the correct droplet size through changing boom pressures Keeping costs down and maintaining feasibility for operators Keeping costs down and maintaining feasibility for operators

13. Prescription Maps Based on Satellite or Airplane imagery Based on Satellite or Airplane imagery Companies such as In-Time ® produce variable rate prescriptions with amounts of chemical needed per rate change Companies such as In-Time ® produce variable rate prescriptions with amounts of chemical needed per rate change Uses GIS programs to outline field boundaries Uses GIS programs to outline field boundaries GIS shapefiles can be loaded directly into Satloc GPS GIS shapefiles can be loaded directly into Satloc GPS

14. Prescription Maps Prescription Map As-Applied Map

15. Prescription Maps Prescription Map As-Applied Map

16. Jones Air Rotating Boom Assembly Designed in Australia Designed in Australia Boom consists of flat fan nozzles that rotate through 110 degrees Boom consists of flat fan nozzles that rotate through 110 degrees Changes droplet size by changing nozzle position relative to the airflow Changes droplet size by changing nozzle position relative to the airflow Used to control spray drift Used to control spray drift

17. Direct Injection Variable Rate Application Also designed in Australia Also designed in Australia Consists of 2 hoppers and creates a dual flow system Consists of 2 hoppers and creates a dual flow system Directly injects variable rates of 2 different chemicals for variable rate application Directly injects variable rates of 2 different chemicals for variable rate application Ex.- chemical can be a constant rate while the other is applied at a variable rate Ex.- chemical can be a constant rate while the other is applied at a variable rate

19. Remote Sensing with Ag Aircraft Research being conducted in Stoneville, MS using ag aircraft as a carrier for remote sensing technology Research being conducted in Stoneville, MS using ag aircraft as a carrier for remote sensing technology Ag aircraft much easier to schedule than higher-flying airplanes, and avoids a lot of atmospheric interference Ag aircraft much easier to schedule than higher-flying airplanes, and avoids a lot of atmospheric interference However, large images cannot be taken, so images must be stitched together However, large images cannot be taken, so images must be stitched together

20. Remote Sensing

21. Taken from 46 m (177 ft.) above canopy using digital video over cotton

22. Thermal Imaging to detect water stress

23. Camera mounted on sprayplane

25. Websites Jones Air Rotating Boom Assembly Jones Air Rotating Boom Assembly Jones Air Rotating Boom Assembly Jones Air Rotating Boom Assembly www.airtractor.com www.airtractor.com www.airtractor.com www.thrushaircraft.com www.thrushaircraft.com www.thrushaircraft.com www.kawakaviation.com www.kawakaviation.com www.kawakaviation.com www.gointime.com www.gointime.com www.gointime.com www.satloc.com www.satloc.com www.satloc.com www.combined.net.au www.combined.net.au www.combined.net.au www.iflyag.com www.iflyag.com www.iflyag.com Cool video on aerial application in Australia Cool video on aerial application in Australia Cool video on aerial application in Australia Cool video on aerial application in Australia

26. References Barber, Lindsay. 2007. Precision Ag: The Future of Aerial Application. Agricultural Aviation. 34 (2). Barber, Lindsay. 2007. Precision Ag: The Future of Aerial Application. Agricultural Aviation. 34 (2). Phone Interview with Dr. Steven Thomson, Research Agricultural Engineer, USDA-ARS, Application and Production Technology Research Unit, Stoneville, MS. On April 11, 2008. Phone Interview with Dr. Steven Thomson, Research Agricultural Engineer, USDA-ARS, Application and Production Technology Research Unit, Stoneville, MS. On April 11, 2008. Smith, L. A., and S. J. Thomson. 2005. Performance of an Aerial Variable-Rate Application System with a Hydraulically Powered Chemical Pump and Spray Valve. NAAA/ASAE Paper #: AA05-009, Washington, D. C.: NAAA. Smith, L. A., and S. J. Thomson. 2005. Performance of an Aerial Variable-Rate Application System with a Hydraulically Powered Chemical Pump and Spray Valve. NAAA/ASAE Paper #: AA05-009, Washington, D. C.: NAAA. Core, J. 2005. Agricultural aircraft offer a different view of remote sensing. Agricultural Research. 53 (3): 20-21. Core, J. 2005. Agricultural aircraft offer a different view of remote sensing. Agricultural Research. 53 (3): 20-21. Thomson, S. J., and V. J. Alarcon. 2001. Geo-referenced digital imaging and ultrasonic altitude sensing for agricultural aircraft – pilot controls, instrumentation, and system evaluations. ASAE paper #: 01-3098. Thomson, S. J., and V. J. Alarcon. 2001. Geo-referenced digital imaging and ultrasonic altitude sensing for agricultural aircraft – pilot controls, instrumentation, and system evaluations. ASAE paper #: 01-3098. Thomson, S. J., and D. G. Sullivan. 2006. Crop status monitoring using multispectral and thermal imaging systems for accessible aerial platforms. ASABE paper # 061179. Thomson, S. J., and D. G. Sullivan. 2006. Crop status monitoring using multispectral and thermal imaging systems for accessible aerial platforms. ASABE paper # 061179.