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The Evolution of Spray Drones, Their Capabilities and Challenges for Pesticide Applications

5.LEARNING TO FLY WITH COMPUTERS

Each drone manufacturer has their own specific software for flight planning and controlling drone functions. Like much of agriculture’s new precision technology,  drone technology requires skills to effectively operate and navigate computers. For  some, this may be as simple as the interface and navigation systems. Most drone  technology is not much different than other common software systems or computers and displays used in modern agricultural equipment. 

However, for those who are not as tech-savvy, overcoming these technologies can be daunting. Some interfaces can be difficult to manage, and some operations may be difficult to troubleshoot in the field. These challenges are compounded by a lack  of adequate product and software support in the industry.

In addition to the steep learning curves with the technology, employees need to  thoroughly understand the federal and state laws that govern drone use for agricultural applications. The FAA, EPA, state regulatory offices, and local  governments can all be involved with creating and enforcing the rules that surround  the use of spray drones. Some of those rules can be confusing, conflicting, or  generally unclear because the rules and laws are continuously being updated to  account for this novel technology. The good news is it should be easier to find eager employees who have both drone and computer experiences as the technology becomes more popular and widespread.

DRONE FACT : If you are interested in hiring a custom spray drone applicator, be sure to ask if the applicator is fully licensed and insured specifically for spray drone applications.