Unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, are quickly gaining popularity. The Federal Aviation Administration estimated that as many as 1 million drones were sold over the holidays.
While the majority of these drones are considered toys, some drones are used for commercial purposes (though approval must first be granted by the FAA). Real estate businesses use drones to take aerial photos and videos of listings. They are used to film movies, aid in surveillance, help emergency personnel and more. Amazon has even announced plans to one day deliver packages by drone.
Drones could also be a boon for farmers by making their daily tasks more efficient. These flying devices can take over some of the most tedious tasks for farmers, such as walking rows of crops to check for weeds, bugs or any other cause of distress. They can also be used to spray pesticides and survey acres of land for more useful data.
The role of agricultural drones is poised to keep expanding. Investors are expected to spend an estimated $16 billion on agricultural robots by 2020 according to a report by Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global Research. And researchers are already pouring resources into agricultural drones, creating machines that can collect data on soil composition, inspect crop health and target specific areas that need treatment as opposed to treating an entire field.
If farmers can get over the sticker shock of a new drone—a low-end model could cost upwards of $2,000 — the machine can help minimize crop damage and increase yields. The American Farm Bureau Federation estimates that a farmer’s return on investment could be $2 to $3 per acre for wheat and soybeans and up to $12 per acre for corn crops.
Practice these safety measures
It seems obvious that the presence of drones is likely to grow over the next few years, and many of our members may use these aerial vehicles for work or play. Despite the number of benefits (and hours of fun) drones can provide to us, there’s also some serious safety concerns that San Patricio Electric Cooperative reminds you to observe.
Follow these safety tips whenever you fly a drone:
Don’t fly near power lines
Flying a drone too close to a power line is a major safety hazard. If you accidently lose control of the drone or misjudge distance, you could hit a power line and leave hundreds of people without electricity. Even worse, it could cause a downed line, which is extremely hazardous. If you ever cause or see a downed line, please make sure you call 911 or contact us immediately. You should always assume that power lines are conducting electricity, even if they are damaged and on the ground. Touching a downed line or anything it has fallen on, such as your drone, could cause injury or even death.
Keep drones in your line of sight
You should be able to see your drone at all times while you fly it. Be aware of your surroundings and keep control of where your drone is headed to avoid running into anything hazardous, such as a power line.
Don’t fly in bad weather
Check out the weather conditions before you fly your drone. Low visibility, high winds and storms could affect your ability to control your drone.
Avoid crowds
Steer clear of crowds while flying your drone to avoid the risk of injuring someone.
Stay away from airports and aircrafts
The last thing you want to do with your drone is crash it into a plane. That could be dangerous for you and anyone on the aircraft. To be safe, never fly your drone above 400 feet or anywhere near an airport.