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Practical Uses and Limitations of UAV TechnologyJohn Scott, Extension Digital Ag Coordinator

Austin Pearson, Tipton County ANR

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23 Extension Educators

6 Extension Specialists

2 Coordinators

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Purdue Extension UAV Website

https://extension.purdue.edu/uav/

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Interested in becoming a Commercial Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) remote pilot certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)?

You’re in luck! The Purdue Cooperative Extension Service has a UAV Signature Program teaching UAV technology legal requirements, FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Knowledge Test preparation, and useful UAV applications.

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Scouting

© Purdue University, Andrew Westfall

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© Purdue University, John Scott

The red circle indicates a difference in vegetation which can be seen visually from 400’

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© Purdue University, John Scott

Close up of the different vegetation.

Possible to clearly see the weed escapes and even get a decent identification.

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© Purdue University, John Scott

All drone images record the lat/long of the drones actual location if connected to GPS. This results in point data.

The image shows the location of the weed escapes from the last slide.

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2019: A Challenging Year

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2019: The year for finding tile…

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Using Cereal Rye for Future Tile Placement

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Using Cereal Rye for Future Tile Placement

purdue.edu/extension© Purdue University, Andrew Westfall

© Purdue University, Bryan Overstreet

Chemical Injury

• Likely poor line/nozzle cleaning, possibly poor tank cleaning.

• Notice the fade in the crop with the center having less damage then the edges.

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© Purdue University, John Scott

Corn Lodging

Lodging by hybrid due to water damage.

Can see the water due to the sun reflecting against its surface.

(Lower Right Center)

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08-02-2018 08-21-2018 08-30-2018 09-13-2018 09-28-2018

© Purdue University, Scott

Timeline of a Corn Hybrid Plot

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Incorporating New Technology

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Marketing

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© Purdue University, John Scott

Marketing a Business

• Possible to get images of any business location/ business operation for use in branding and marketing.

• Creativity is King when getting the right images for a client.

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Structural Inspection

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© Purdue University, John Scott

Structural Dimensions

• It is possible to gather information on structure height simply using the drone.

• This is possible due to the overlapping images that make up the map and the differences in perspective between images. Using complex math (photogrammetry) it is possible to create depth from a 2D image.

o And yes it is pretty accurate, this barn was physically measured with a tape measure and was within a couple of inches of the drone.

18.04’

Drone Deploy Stitched Map

Manual Photograph

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© Purdue University, Bryan Overstreet© Purdue University, Bryan Overstreet

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Animal Agriculture

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Border of pearl millet

Bo

rder

of

pea

rl m

illet

Note the lodging of Sweet Six BMR sorghum-sudangrass

Sweet Bites normal sorghum-sudangrass

Sweet Six BMR sorghum-sudangrass

Sweet Six BMR sorghum-sudangrassTifleaf 3 normal pearl millet

Tifleaf 3 normal pearl millet

Tifleaf 3 normal pearl millet

Pro-Max BMR sudangrass

Pro-Max BMR sudangrass

Pro-Max BMR sudangrassSummer BMR pearl millet

Summer BMR pearl millet

Summer BMR pearl millet

Sweet Bites normal sorghum-sudangrass

Sweet Bites normal sorghum-sudangrass

Sweet Six BMR sorghum-sudangrass

Piper normal sudangrass

Piper normal sudangrass

Piper normal sudangrass

Paddock 1 Paddock 2 Paddock 3 Paddock 4

© Purdue University, Dave Osborne

Cattle Grazing Patterns

Cattle started on paddock 1 and fence was gradually removed on paddocks 2-4 with no backfencing so pasture gradually grew bigger. Feeding patterns emerged with the heifers disliking pearl millet while greatly preferring sorghum-sudangrass.

North

Image taken on July 6, 2018

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Sweet Six BMR sorghum-sudangrass

Sweet Six BMR sorghum-sudangrassTifleaf 3 normal pearl millet

Tifleaf 3 normal pearl millet

Tifleaf 3 normal pearl millet

Pro-Max BMR sudangrass

Pro-Max BMR sudangrass

Pro-Max BMR sudangrassSummer BMR pearl millet

Summer BMR pearl millet

Summer BMR pearl millet

Sweet Bites normal sorghum-sudangrass

Sweet Bites normal sorghum-sudangrass

Sweet Six BMR sorghum-sudangrass

Piper normal sudangrass

Piper normal sudangrass

Piper normal sudangrass

Sweet Bites normal sorghum-sudangrassPaddock 1 Paddock 2 Paddock 3 Paddock 4

North

© Purdue University, Dave OsborneImage taken on July 13, 2018

Cattle Grazing Patterns

Same field using the VARI algorithm in drone deploy. Red color indicates more soil exposure, interesting that in this instance red is good, meaning that the forage was better grazed, while in row crops red generally indicates stress.

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Natural Resources

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© Purdue University, John Scott

WASCOB Inspection

• This map was created to check basin construction and the cross section allow us to see berm height along with overall slope.

• To check risers each was manually flown to and an image taken.

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Timber Management

UASs are small unmanned aerial systems.

© Purdue University, Alex Helms

Oak Wilt

A drone used to identify oak wilt in the a mixed wooded area in Southern Indiana.

• Often if a diseased tree can be identified quickly enough and harvested that greatly reduces the disease pressure in the area. Timing is critical.

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Turf Management

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Rensselear High School Football Field9-19-2018

© Purdue University, Bryan Overstreet

Football field

• Interesting wear patterns across the field.

• Home field side is up and has greater wear on the turf which is not surprising.

o This image could be used by grounds crew to help guide turf maintenance.

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Rensselear High School Football Field9-19-2018

© Purdue University, Bryan Overstreet

Football field

• The wear patterns across the field ‘pop’ in the plant health image.

o This image was used by grounds crew to help guide over-seeding and fertilizer applications.

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Limitations

© Purdue University, Andrew Westfall

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• Value Creation and ROI questions

• FAA Regulations and Certification

• Operators photography knowledge and ability

• Ambient Light Conditions

• Software capability

• Battery power

• Image processing

• Internet speed

• Various UAV designs

• Various UAV sensors

• Data management

Limitations

Several limitations with this tool:

© Purdue University, Andrew Westfall

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FAA Regulations and Certification

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August 29, 2016The rules : Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 107, Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

Part 107 addresses:

a) small UAS classification, b) certification, and c) operational limitations

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https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=e331c2fe611df1717386d29eee38b000&mc=true&node=pt14.2.107&rgn=div5

Prior to test… Make sure you go through the Code of Federal Regulations to become familiar with all Regulations.

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=e331c2fe611df1717386d29eee38b000&mc=true&node=pt14.2.107&rgn=div5

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FAA Part 107 to Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations.

Provides safety rules for the use of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

Gives information about airspace restrictions, visual observer requirements, and operational requirements.

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Remote Pilot Certification Requirements▪ Be at least 16 years old

▪ English proficiency

▪ Pass TSA background check

▪ Pass written (multiple choice) aeronautical knowledge exam at an FAA approved testing center

▪ Pass a recurrent aeronautical knowledge test every 24 months

▪ No aeronautical experience of flight proficiency required

▪ No airman medical certificate required

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Camera Settings

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Camera Settings Case Study1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

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Which settings were the best so far?

• Set camera settings based off of automatic camera settings (test

flight)

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So…• Camera Settings are critically important when flying a drone.

• The value comes from collected images.

• When flying manually automatic is probably best.• The camera adjusts on the fly so the operator can just go, but can change if needed for a

specific exposure.

• When flying a mission it depends on the flight purpose and overall goal.• Whatever is used it should remain consistent throughout the entire flight

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Light Conditions

Sunlight, Clouds, and Shadows

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Corn

© Purdue University, RL Nielsen© Purdue University, RL Nielsen

Soybean:

© Purdue University, Scott

purdue.edu/extension © Purdue University, Ana Ona

© Purdue University, Scott

© Purdue University, Scott

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Clouds

UASs are small unmanned aerial systems.© Purdue University, Austin Pearson

purdue.edu/extension© Purdue University, Mark Carter

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Sunlight/Shadows

UASs are small unmanned aerial systems.

© Purdue University, Mark Carter

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Sunlight/Shadows/Clouds Handling Techniques

• Avoid facing the sun during morning and evening.

• Plan accordingly for known tree lines/ground obstructions.

• Know when clouds tend to move into and out of your operation area.

❖ Sometimes as an operator you have to decide between ground based shadows and clouds.

❖ Full Sun or Complete Overcast are both good for flying planned jobs. Broken skies are not your friend.