The age of drones

[BigVanVader]

I was just talking to some farmer friends the other day about how I wish there were something available that could take a pic of your plants and tell you exactly what it needs. Seems somebody is way ahead of me, although I was thinking more along the lines of an app that I could use on my phone.

http://phys.org/news/2016-05-agricul...-piercing.html

[kurt]

Got my first one two weeks ago fishing in the Everglades.Some wise guy thought it would be cute to buzz us.Well the drone was no match for some 12 pound braided fly line.Lost a hook and a fly.But the satisfaction was nice when watching the drone sinking and the operator somewhere wondering what happened.Maybe he has a copy of it on video.

P.S.A fishing buddy is going to load 12 guage rounds with rocksalt,he says it works great,knocks them right out of the sky when the drones come buzzing OVER his property.

[ddsack]

Yay, Kurt! Way to go! I absolutely hate those things for recreational use! I can see where they have good commercial use for farmers in checking large fields, and in exploration and recovery situations where it's a hazard to send in live person. They should be licensed with fees steep enough to keep them out of the hands of any idiot with idle time on his hands.

[AlittleSalt]

Kurt wish I could have been there.

[dfollett]

Originally Posted by BigVanVader

I was just talking to some farmer friends the other day about how I wish there were something available that could take a pic of your plants and tell you exactly what it needs. Seems somebody is way ahead of me, although I was thinking more along the lines of an app that I could use on my phone.

http://phys.org/news/2016-05-agricul...-piercing.html

There IS an app that does just that, at least for Android phones, not sure about Apple, but probably. In the Play Store search for "Tomato MD". It was done by the American Phytopathological Society. It is very well done with photos of every tomato malady imaginable with explanations of causes cures and a host of other information.

It is extremely well done. I believe it costs $2.99 or $4.99 one-time. No ads makes it well worth it if you want instant access to that sort of information on your phone while walking through the garden.

[Worth1]

Leave it to me to be the last one to know about these problems.
It appears that there are a lot of people invading the privacy of other people with these things.

I just read were a Kentucky man was arrested for shooting down one with a shotgun because it was looking at his daughter sunbathing in the back yard.

What they should have done was take the person running the drone and slam his face against a three trunk several times.

Worth

[BigVanVader]

That is useful dfolett, but what I want is a hyperspectral camera app so I can take a pic and it tells me any nutrient deficiencies, insects present, projected production etc just like the drone does. If onlyI had a clue about this kinda thing. Idk if it's even feasible but it would be really helpful.

[jmsieglaff]

Too bad a drone fleet couldn't be outfitted to vacuum up and shred things like SVB moths, Japanese Beetles, etc. But smart enough to leave good bugs.

[Douglas_OW]

Originally Posted by ddsack

Yay, Kurt! Way to go! I absolutely hate those things for recreational use! I can see where they have good commercial use for farmers in checking large fields, and in exploration and recovery situations where it's a hazard to send in live person. They should be licensed with fees steep enough to keep them out of the hands of any idiot with idle time on his hands.

Drone technology is more than ready for agriculture. FAA regulations are far behind:

http://bestdroneforthejob.com/drone-...-buyers-guide/

The FAA views all agricultural drone activity as commercial drone operation. This means the drone operator must have a Section 333 exemption to fly. And a pilot’s license.

This is true, even if no money changes hands.

To learn more about the FAA’s requirements, check out the FAA Section 333 website or read a recent 333 exemption approval letter.

In other words, there’s no such thing as an amateur agriculture drone operator.

So far, the FAA has established regulations that specifically allow recreational use of small drones, but specifically prohibit commercial use (anything that might be useful).

Hopefully, regulations will catch up and allow reasonable use in agriculture. In the mean time, the FAA doesn't appear to be too interested in prosecuting farmers- but they have the means to, if it strikes their fancy.

Some interesting links:

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourcei...ns+agriculture

Jim

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by jmsieglaff

Too bad a drone fleet couldn't be outfitted to vacuum up and shred things like SVB moths, Japanese Beetles, etc. But smart enough to leave good bugs.

They did some research on bats and found out they were going 1000's of feet in the air and eating swarms of moths.
Before they had no idea what they were doing.

Worth.

[SeniorTomate]

Originally Posted by kurt

Got my first one two weeks ago fishing in the Everglades.Some wise guy thought it would be cute to buzz us.Well the drone was no match for some 12 pound braided fly line.Lost a hook and a fly.But the satisfaction was nice when watching the drone sinking and the operator somewhere wondering what happened.Maybe he has a copy of it on video.

P.S.A fishing buddy is going to load 12 guage rounds with rocksalt,he says it works great,knocks them right out of the sky when the drones come buzzing OVER his property.

Kurt that's just awesome! I wish I could have seen that. It sounds like they were scoping you fishin hole!

Originally Posted by Worth1

Leave it to me to be the last one to know about these problems.
It appears that there are a lot of people invading the privacy of other people with these things.

I just read were a Kentucky man was arrested for shooting down one with a shotgun because it was looking at his daughter sunbathing in the back yard.

Worth

Worth, I had to look this up. I love the south! The judge also dismissed the case and he was found innocent to protect his right to privacy! Merica!

[jmsieglaff]

Originally Posted by Worth1

They did some research on bats and found out they were going 1000's of feet in the air and eating swarms of moths.
Before they had no idea what they were doing.

Worth.

Ok, more bat houses, we'll go with nature's drone.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by SeniorTomate

Kurt that's just awesome! I wish I could have seen that. It sounds like they were scoping you fishin hole!



Worth, I had to look this up. I love the south! The judge also dismissed the case and he was found innocent to protect his right to privacy! Merica!

I didnt know what they did to him.
They excuse was he was endangering people with a shotgun.
It is a myth, the guy shot into the air.
I cant tell how many times I have had shotgun pellets rain down on me.
They are harmless.

Originally Posted by jmsieglaff

Ok, more bat houses, we'll go with nature's drone.

It was on a program I saw on PBS I think.
It was amazing.
They were tracking the bats and then somehow (Doppler radar) were able to detect what the bats were eating that far up.
Literally millions of moths in a cloud 1000s of feet up.

Here is a fantastic article on it going on right here where I live.
It is s good link that doesn't have a pile of animated pop ups and loads fast.

Worth
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...kbrsEP6BQgRfpA

[SeniorTomate]

That was an interesting article Worth. I thought the radar images were amazing that they are able to pick up the bats leaving the caves, and the insects coming within range.

[Worth1]

I think the bats are doing a better job than the drones could.
It would be horrible not to have those bats eating all of those harmful moths.

There is a big population of the Mexican Free-Tailed bats in Austin under the congress street bridge.
I have been there early in the morning when they come back in from feeding.
It is claimed the worlds largest urban bat colony.


Worth