Three wagons, full of anxious attendees, made the trek from the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center out to one of its open fields for the much-anticipated UAV demonstration.
Photo by Paul Rusnak
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Gather Around
Interest in this subject matter was apparent by the turnout and attention given during opening remarks.
Photo by Frank Giles
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Pre-Flight Instruction
UF/IFAS researcher Dr. Amr H. Abd-Elrahman welcomed onlookers and gave a summary about some of the applications the UAV technology is affording researchers regarding geomatics (science that deals with collection, analysis, and interpretation of data relating to the earth's surface), including:
high accuracy, high-resolution imagery
target identification
target classification
maximum coverage of ground area
Photo by Paul Rusnak
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Learning Curve
Dr. Raymond Carthy, head of UF/IFAS' Wildlife Ecology and Conservation department, provided information on the advantages of using UAVs for ecology and conservation purposes. Some of the pros are:
helps keep biologists on the ground
ease of use
enhances existing ground and air-based survey methods
it's more budget friendly for natural resource budgets
Just like that, the Kevlar/carbon-based aircraft was off the ground. Some of the aerospace engineering features and benefits of the UF-built vehicle include:
autonomous flight control
long-life battery power
rapid deployment
the ability to hand-launch it from an airboat
amphibious operation
Photo by Frank Giles
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Any Questions?
UF/IFAS Unmanned Aircraft Systems Research Program coordinator Matthew Burgess (center) gave specs on the UF-created UAVs to an interested crowd who attended the on-site demo and answered multiple questions about the UAV's capabilities and durability.
Photo by Paul Rusnak
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Up-Close Look
This particular aircraft features a wingspan of nearly nine feet and is built on an frame created specifically for operation in wetlands-type terrain. While FAA sorts out regulations for these types of crafts, UF/IFAS researchers will continue exploring the outer limits of this technology.
During the 2014 Florida Ag Expo, gobs of attendees left lunch early for a chance to watch a special unmanned aerial vehicle (aka, “drone”) demonstration.
The buzz was building about this new addition to the Expo agenda all the way up to departure of the three large tractor-pulled wagons filled to capacity.
The unique educational session lured those interested in this high-flying technology and how it can be applied to agriculture out to the field.
Scan the slideshow above to find out what was seen and discussed during the demo.
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Paul Rusnak is the Senior Online Editor of American Vegetable Grower, American Fruit Grower, and Greenhouse Grower magazines, all Meister Media Worldwide brands. He is based in Northeast Florida. See all author stories here.
December 5, 2014 
