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| Thank you for your thoughtful response! I really appreciate hearing your insights and experiences, especially given your years in farming and the occasional use of drones.
You’ve raised some key points that are crucial to the conversation around drones in agriculture:
• Battery Time and Filling: You’re absolutely right. Managing battery life and constant refilling can be challenging, especially for operations like spraying. In fact, this is a common pain point that many farmers and service providers face today. However, battery technology is advancing rapidly. Newer models are being developed with longer flight times, and some are being equipped with hybrid power systems (combining fuel and electric) to extend operational time without frequent interruptions.
• Air Clearance: The concern you mentioned about airspace clearance, even in remote areas, is definitely valid. Regulations are still evolving, and while many areas might feel like “no man’s land,” there are rules that apply even in rural areas for safety reasons. This is an area that’s improving as governments and drone technology providers work together to simplify drone airspace management, making it easier for farmers like you to operate legally and safely without the red tape.
• Efficiency: I can also understand how it could take three people to manage just two drones—this can feel overwhelming for sure. But the good news is that there’s a lot of development in making drones more autonomous, with features like automated refilling and better navigation systems. This reduces the need for multiple operators and makes it possible to manage operations more efficiently.
Even though you feel you’re “too old” to dive fully into drones, I believe the feedback from experienced farmers like yourself is invaluable to making this technology more accessible to everyone. I’d love to hear your thoughts on what would make drones easier for farmers to adopt, whether that’s battery improvements, automated systems, or something else.
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts!
Best,
Gene | |
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Seeking Feedback from Farmers on the Use of Drones in Agriculture
