The U.S. Department of Justice produced a report in 2016 addressing the pros and cons of integrating unmanned aerial systems (UAS) within the national air space (NAS). With the unmanned nature of these aircraft, they are able to operate specific missions that would normally be very fatal or hazardous for humans. UAS can also operate within difficult to reach areas during natural disasters, find missing people within the wilderness, or even provide visual insight to crime scenes or other surveillance missions.
However, the issue of privacy and civil liberties remain a huge issue. This report also addressed public concerns for privacy and safety during UAS operations. The U.S. Department of Justice was in agreement that there needs to be an agreement of some sort to control unmanned aircraft issues relating to privacy. Hence why the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented Part 107 regulation for drone certifications and operational protocol.
An example of successful implementation for UAS operations within these known limitations are the use of drones for agricultural purposes. According to Pinguet (2020) the use of drones within the agriculture industry is flourishing by aiding farmers in gaining comprehensive data on their crops. The more accurate information a farmer can gain about their crops, the more profitable the farmer and crops will be.
Delta Farm Press (2020) lays out steps on how to legally operate a drone within the agricultural industry. The first step is to learn the rules laid out by the FAA specifying who, how, and when a UAS can be operated. This includes operating in specific areas to not subject someone's privacy or safety concerns. The second step addresses a person becoming a FAA-certified drone pilot to ensure the pilot is governing their behavior in such a way to ensure adherence to the FAA regulation. The last step is telling the drone operator to register their drone with the FAA. This keeps the operator held accountable to the FAA and establishes a knowledge base on proper operation.
This new way for sustainable agriculture needs more research and thorough investigation of the pros and cons for drone usage. According to Delta Farm Press (2019) drones have already been implemented in Brazil for Biological Control through releasing parasitoids into sugarcane and soybean fields and then using the drone to monitor the crops health. Having the ability to detect early on the health of the crops saves the farmers both time and money to ensure adequate crop output. A UAS can possess the ability to detect when there are pest outbreaks within the crop and then integrated pest management (IPM) can be implemented quickly to save the crop from unnecessary damage.
Within this type of drone usage there aren’t many concerns for privacy or safety concerns but having a lost link procedure in place can allow for precaution due to unforeseen circumstances. According to Perritt and Sprague (2016) having a lost link is said to be one of the most dangerous situations a drone pilot can face as the safety concern is very high and potentially life threatening if the drone were to crash. When the drone faces a lost link, having software previously installed telling the drone to return home is crucial to regain control and keep people from harm's way from a rogue drone (Perritt and Sprague, 2016). Within this return to home feature the speed and latitude must be predetermined as well to ensure the drone is not at risk of crashing into other obstructions. This would be easier to determine within crop monitoring drones if the farmer is aware of the crops height and other possible barriers from the designated home location.
Overall drone usage for agricultural crop monitoring is only going to continue to grow as technology capabilities advance. Being able to monitor crops efficiently provides economical benefits for both the farmer and environment. UAS possess so much potential for advanced farming capabilities.
Thanks,
EMW
References
Delta Farm Press (2019). Scientists: Drones important for sustainable agriculture. Retrieved from https://bi-gale-com.ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/essentials/article/GALE%7CA608571100?u=embry&sid=summon
Delta Farm Press (2020). Legally operating a drone in the agriculture industry. Retrieved from https://bi-gale-com.ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/essentials/article/GALE%7CA617981723?u=embry&sid=summon
Perritt, H., and Sprague, E. (2016). Domesticating Drones: The Technology, Law, and Economics of Unmanned Aircraft. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/erau/reader.action?docID=4684221#
Pinguet, B. (2020). The role of drone technology in sustainable agriculture. Retrieved from https://www.precisionag.com/in-field-technologies/drones-uavs/the-role-of-drone-technology-in-sustainable-agriculture/
U.S. Department of Justice (2016). Considerations and recommendations for implementing an unmanned aircraft system (uas) program. Retrieved from https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/250283.pdf
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