Risk & Reward: Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Agricultural Producers
The materials developed for the risk education are partially supported by a grant from the Southern Extension Risk Management Education Center (SRMEC), and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Award Number 2015-49200-24228.
Unmanned aircraft systems
The overall goal of these workshops is to introduce attendees to small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS). It is estimated that 80% of commercial sUAS users will be in agriculture. These workshops will focus on risk-based training for current and future commercial users of this emerging technology. These workshops will include presentations on aircraft systems and a workflow demonstration since most initial users are uneasy about the technology. Participants should achieve an improved understanding of flight regulations, types of platforms & sensors, data processing, potential agricultural uses, and liability issues related to UAS. Participants will also make improved decisions to match the best sUAS with their needs
These workshops were presented at the following events:
Beltwide Cotton Conf., Jan. 3-5, 2018, San Antonio, TX (Fri., Jan. 5, 8am-noon)
SE Fruit & Vegetable Conf., Jan. 9-12, 2018, Savannah, GA (Thur., Jan. 11, 1pm-5pm); News coverage
SSAWG, Jan. 17-19, 2018, Chattanooga, TN (Thurs., Jan. 18, 1pm-5pm)
Cultivate2018, July 14-18, 2018, Columbus, OH (Sat., July 14, 8am-noon)
NACAA AM/PIC July 29, 2018, Chattanooga, TN
2 FSA-6150 sUAS Pilot Certification Aircraft Registration Non-Hobby Users of sUAS
Educational Modules
UAV Basics: Introduction
Liability/ Risk
Pilot Cert. & Aircraft Registration
Types of Aircraft
Types of Sensors
Software, Workflow & Image Processing
Agricultural Applications of UAV
What's the Buzz About Drone? The Do's and Don'ts
(A webinar by Dr. Jim Robbins, June 07, 2018)
Dr. Mengmeng Gu works closely with the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association to provide educational programming and industry support. She regularly provides agent training and writes extension publications on the green industry through face-to-face workshops and online webinars. She communicates regularly with stakeholders through conventional and social media platforms (e.g. Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter). Dr. Gu also has a close relationship with the sustainable agriculture community through her tenure as a board member of the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group. Dr. Gu has been the PD/co-PD on 4 SRMEC projects.
Since 2010 he has been focused on research and extension efforts related to the use of unmanned aircraft systems in agriculture. His research has focused on counting plants in open-field situations and monitoring water stress in container-grown nursery crops, both using sUAS. Dr. Robbins has written several Extension Fact Sheets on sUAS and authored a chapter in Horticultural Reviews on sUAS.
Dr. Joe Mari Maja is a Sensor Research Engineer. He works with research scientists within Clemson and South Carolina farmers in developing sensor and automation technology. He is currently designated as the official UAS pilot at Clemson University and has been working with agricultural applications of UAS in several southern states. Dr. Maja is currently managing the Sensor and Automation Laboratory where UAS technologies are developed. He is also a founding member of eXtension UAS LN and currently a member of the MS-54 Precision Agriculture of ASABE, Editorial board member of the AIMS Agriculture and Food, and the chair of the IEEE Savannah River Section.
Rusty Rumley is a Senior Staff Attorney with the National Agricultural Law Center. His focus is on landowner liability issues including the operation of UAS in agriculture. He has written several articles on legal issues surrounding the use of UAS and presented across the country about concerns on privacy, nuisance, trespass and how state laws are impacting the usage of UAS technology.
