martes, 2 de abril de 2013

Unmanned Drones May Have Their Greatest Impact on Agriculture


Unmanned drones have emerged as a controversial tool for the military and national security apparatus. But in a few years, they may become ubiquitous over America’s farms, producing up to 100,000 new jobs and add $82 billion in economic activity between 2015 and 2025. The change will open new markets for sales, thanks the technology’s ability to provide farmers with a bird’s-eye view of their land. Weighing less than 50 pounds and often the size of a child’s toy-plane, agricultural drones can drastically reduce the cost of land surveying. Robert Blair, the owner of a wheat, barley and cattle farm in Idaho that was established in 1903, says he uses his own UAV for multiple purposes, including providing proof for insurance claims. (Read more)