In Utah, researchers at Utah State University unveiled their newest all-electric unmanned aerial vehicle for agriculture research and water resources engineering. The BluJay line of aircraft can fly a distance of over 200 miles and can capture imagery over a 20-square-mile area with resolution of up to 10 centimeters by 10 centimeters.
“This aircraft represents the latest improvements in UAV technology,” said Dr. Mac McKee, director of the Utah Water Research Lab. “It can stay aloft for more than three hours and can carry a five-plus-pound payload of four different cameras. And the best part is it’s 100 percent student-designed.”
The UAV captures aerial images with cameras and software that can determine information about soil and plant moisture properties. By combining UAV imagery with data from satellites and local weather conditions, it’s possible to create forecasting information that significantly increases irrigation efficiency at growing operations where water supplies are limited.