In a landmark decision, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given the nod to Pyka, an Oakland-based manufacturer, permitting its autonomous Pelican sprayer to take to the skies. Michael Norcia, the visionary leading Pyka as its CEO, anticipates a revolution in agriculture, where autonomous electric aircraft could be as common as tractors within half a decade.
Drones have a new role in agriculture, with the ability to measure soil radioactivity to optimize crop yield. A smart sensor mounted on a drone can detect soil radioactivity from the air, providing data on soil health and mineral content.
Drones have come a long way since their inception and have found applications in various industries. Agriculture, in particular, is one industry that has found tremendous benefit from using drones. These unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have proven to be valuable assets in modern farming practices, offering a host of advantages to farmers.
Drones can do a lot to help farmers or scientists, they can survey any area and even analyse what they see. In farmland, they can quickly track the spread of flooding, hail damage or even provide information on the health of crop cover.