Have you ever seen someone flying a drone in a park and thought “How cool is that?” These “unmanned aerial vehicles” – or UAVs – have many professional uses. Did you know about the new world of drones that help produce each bite of your meal?
With drone advancements and lower costs, drones have become more common in the daily activities of crop science research. They can replace the hard work of walking through fields, taking measurements and identifying problems. They help scientists accelerate discoveries and reduce labor costs to create more nutritious, high-yielding, and flavorful crops.
Before delving into examples and applications, let’s talk about the fundamental concept grounding how drones are used in crop science. Our Sun emits radiation, which we call the “electromagnetic spectrum.” This includes the visible light that we see and also microwaves, near infrar