Got $1.5m for a bit of spraying?
While we are seeing more and more drones being used in New Zealand agriculture, we’re some way behind the US, where in places like the Midwest, the drones are certainly bigger than Texas.
From farming to forestry, there's huge potential for UAVs to bring massive changes to a wide range of rural businesses.
Some surprising insights into this future technology will be revealed at MobileTECH 2015 which is being run on in Auckland on April 29-30. The event focuses on UAVs, robotics and automation for primary industry businesses in both Australia and New Zealand.
For an investment as little as $500, or upwards of $30,000 plus, UAVs can provide a big boost in productivity. UAVs can scan and monitor wide stretches of forest plantings from above, check on crops, spot for broken fences, transport materials to remote areas, apply targeted doses of fertiliser, undertake 3D mapping and even herd animals. The truth is that we've only really touched the surface of what UAVs will potentially be able to do.
A recent Research and Markets report, 'Commercial Drones: Market Shares, Strategy, and Forecasts, Worldwide, 2015 to 2021', forecasts the worldwide market for UAVs will increase from US$609 million to US$4.8 billion by 2021. New innovations in flight times, load capacities, control systems and production costs has opened the doors to a seemingly limitless number of applications in the commercial world.
As the floodgates open to the use of UAVs, Governments from around the world have been racing to develop the right rules, regulations and guidelines to ensure their safe commercial use. Australia and New Zealand have been leading the way here and enabled a healthy and innovative market. It will be interesting to see how long it will take for countries like the US to follow suit.
Leaders of industry need to know not only what current capability UAVs offer but also where this technology is heading. For many companies decisions will be made that are likely to involve considerable investment, not only in monetary terms but also in developing organisational and operational methodology. Maximising insight into the fundamentals of this technology will offer those decision makers a stronger foundation to plan ahead, formulate policy decisions and evolve strategic planning.
MobileTECH 2015 is a major technology event focusing on UAVs, robotics and automation for primary industry businesses in both Australia and New Zealand. Talks will look at the evolution of UAVs, from the past to the present and will reveal some surprising insights into the future of this technology. Leading innovations in aircraft, operational systems and human-machine interfaces will be on display and demonstrated at this event.
There will also be a number of case studies highlighting UAVs currently being used in farming, horticulture and forestry businesses.
"The objective of this event series is to profile innovative new technology and demonstrate how it's actually being used today," says programme manager for Connex: Event Innovators, Ken Wilson.
"This is a great opportunity for the whole industry, whether they are based in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, fisheries or grain, to come together to discuss new innovations, opportunities for collaboration and find out the real results from early adoption," says Wilson.
Registrations are open for MobileTECH and further information on this event can be found at www.mobiletech.events.
