Researchers at UC Davis have a new toy. It's a helicopter the size of a Motorcycle — one which just might put an end to one of humanity's most dangerous professions.
Crop dusting is — literally — a dying trade. In the state of California alone, several pilots arekilled on the job every year. But now, thanks to this little whirly-bird, all that may be coming to an end. Developed in Japan, the not-so-little R/C helicopter has recently begun being put through its paces in Northern California's Napa Valley.
Decked out with some pretty sweet racing stripes, the helicopter is equipped not only with crop spraying equipment, but an on-board camera as well. By utilizing the camera during sprayings, vineyards can get real-time data on their vines, documenting areas of their massive fields which are in need of particular care.
To the Japanese, these little 'copters aren't anything new. There are currently 2,500 mini helicopters in use all across Japan. Instead of wine grapes, they're used to care for rice fields — to the tune of a whopping 40 percent of Japan's total production capacity.
UAVs and drones have caught a lot of flack recently, but seeing a racing stripe-clad chopper tending fields of grape vines just might stay even the most anti-drone campaigner. Even the FAA is on board, granting flight permits to UC Davis as they continue their testing. If their results prove what Japan's rice farmers already know to be true, we'll see safer, smaller crop dusters thrumming along above vineyards all across the US in the very near future.
UC Davis, via Robots.net
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